Nana Konadu charged with theft, fraud and conspiracy but………

Despite her claim of “standing on high moral grounds” and upholding the tenets of “Probity, Accountability and Social Justice”, founder of the National Democratic Party, Nana Konadu Agyemang Rawlings, is deeply enmeshed in corruption as those she persistently accuse, a research has revealed

Records show that while Mrs Rawlings has accused officials of the NDC of corruption, the former first lady was not only accused of corruption but was indeed charged with theft, fraud and conspiracy to defraud the state during the John Kufuor administration.

But for ex-President John Agyekum Kufuor’s ‘latter-day’ demonstration of high-mindedness when he truncated prosecution of some members and officials of the National Democratic Congress government of Ex-President Rawlings’ administration, Nana Konadu would have been languishing in jail.

The former first lady was among kingpins of the  NDC under the rule of Jerry John Rawlings charged with theft, fraud and conspiracy to defraud the state by the John Kufuor administration in 2005, but was “saved by the bell” when the then departing President, Mr Kufuor, instructed prosecutors to discontinue the case against her in December 2008.

Though no official reason was given for the Kufuor administration’s decision to drop charges against Konadu, Mr Kufuor’s supporters say “the former President took that decision out of goodwill and in the spirit of reconciliation, it was also to demonstrate his bigheartedness”.

According to a BBC report “Her (Mrs Rawlings) attorney said the case had been dropped on the orders of John Kufuor…  
Former Chief Executive of Ghana National Petroleum Company, Mr. Tsatu Tsikata, who had already received a five-year prison term in 2008 for causing financial loss to the state, was also pardoned by President Kufuor alongside Nana Konadu.

Mrs Rawlings, whose daughter is the NDC MP for Klottey Korle, ditched his hubby’s party, the NDC, in 2011 after a fruitless attempt to snatch the leadership of the party from the late President Mills.

She subsequently formed the NDP but only succeeded in having her name on Ghana’s presidential ballot in last year’s election after failed attempt in 2012. She however, performed miserably, having come last in the 2016 polls.

Since her departure from the NDC, Mrs Rawlings has been on the neck of NDC officials, describing them as filthy corrupt and undeserving of managing the country.
She has accused virtually every official of NDC of corruption, except her husband and perhaps, other NDC bigwigs who remain loyal to her household.

Memories of how NDC activists staunchly defended her and stood by during her trial should have been enough to prod Mr and Mrs Rawlings to reciprocate the kind gesture extended her that eventually led to her gaining her freedom.

Read below the BBC report published in 2009…
 
Ghana ex-first lady case dropped
All charges have been dropped against Ghana’s former first lady Nana Konadu Rawlings, her lawyer has told the BBC.
She was charged in 2005 with theft, fraud and conspiracy to defraud the state during the 1990s when her husband Jerry Rawlings was president.
Her attorney said the case had been dropped on the orders of John Kufuor, who stood down as president last week.
He handed over to John Atta Mills, once Mr Rawlings’ deputy, after his party’s candidate lost the December elections.
Leaders of the National Democratic Congress, now in power, had dubbed this case – and another against the former chief of Ghana’s National Petroleum Company – as politically motivated “witch hunts”.
Tsatu Tsikata, who received a five-year prison term in 2008 for causing financial loss to the state, was also pardoned by Mr Kufuor last week.
The BBC’s David Amanor in the capital, Accra, says it is unclear why the cases have been dismissed.
Mr Kufuor’s supporters say it is a mark of his generous spirit; his detractors say that with his New Patriotic Party out of government, the former president is attempting to head off recriminations.
‘Dragged through mud’
Mr Tsikata has vowed to ignore the pardon and carry on fighting for acquittal in the courts.
Mrs Rawlings’ lawyer expressed dismay at the handling of the case which will be formally discontinued by Ghana’s High Court on Thursday.
“Her name has been dragged through the mud for three years,” Tony Lithur told the BBC’s Focus on Africa programme.
“The case has damaged Mrs Rawlings’ international reputation and had no basis in the first place,” he said.
Mrs Rawlings and four others were accused of misappropriating public funds and property during the late 1990s while organizing the sale of a publicly owned canning factory in Ghana’s Eastern region.
The defendants had all pleaded not guilty.
Mr Rawlings first came to power in a coup in 1979, and in 1981 again seized power from his democratically elected successor.
He won democratic elections in 1992 and 1996 but stood down at the 2000 election, when his chosen successor, Mr Atta Mills, was defeated by Mr Kufuor. Source: BBC Tuesday, 13 January 2009
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

After 4 Johns in Succession
AKUFO
ADDO
MOCKS
MAHAMA
“I’m also a Historian”
 

Having been patting himself on the shoulder for ending the successive reign of the “Johns” in Ghanaian politics, President Akufo-Addo is priding himself as setting the stage for ‘Historians’ to also take over the mantle of leadership of the country.

Obviously, mimicking former President John Dramani Mahama’s constants reference to his shrewdness in history, President Akufo-Addo recently stunned his book launch audience when he announced that he is also a “historian” who has got hold of the keys to the Flag Staff House.

President Akufo-Addo, who has since his swearing-in resorted to the wearing of African wear, a trademark of his predecessor, John Mahama, signaled he may have not only broken the myth surrounding the “Johns” association with Ghana’s presidency, but also, to show that it is now the turn of historians taking over the mantle of leadership of the country.

Speaking at the launching of the book, “Ghana’s Pride and Glory” authored by Lawyer Aidoohene Chinbuah, President Akufo-Addo surprised his audience when he majestically stated “as you all know, I’m somewhat of a historian myself.”

Clearly, drawing on how he was jabbed for adulterating Ghana’s history in his speech to mark Ghana’s 60 independence anniversary at the Black Star Square, the former Abuakwa South lawmaker-turned-President, said “to the extent to which a person who’s every pronouncement on our history provokes passionate controversy – can be said to be a historian.”

Revealing how he much relishes controversy, President Akufo-Addo explained; “controversy and passion are illuminating; they are lights on the path for the truth and that has to be the goal.”

This was the first time President Akufo-Addo has openly admitted his proclivity to controversy.
Virtually responding to critics that, he skewed his first Independence Day speech by extolling the virtues of his kinsmen, the president said he has always sparked controversy in the country with his public pronouncements because he is not a “dull politician”.

“This has been a very strange week. On Monday, I made a speech to the country which I tried to speak about how we became Ghana. And like everything I say, it’s ended up in controversy. But that is how it should be. A politician who doesn’t generate controversy is a dull politician,” he stated.

President Akufo-Addo made history last December when he convincingly defeated John Mahama of the National Democratic Congress who was seeking his second term in office.

He thus became; the first “non-John” to climb to the presidency after all four past Presidents in the Fourth Republic bears the name “John”.
Before Nana Akufo-Addo’s victory, Ghanaians lived with the myth that only a “John” can become President of Ghana.

This myth was consolidated when Mr John Mahama succeeded late President John Mills who died in office and eventually won the 2012 elections. Before President John Mills was President John Kufuor who also took over from President John Rawlings
 
Aside bearing the name “John”, ex-President Mahama variously touted himself as a “student of history” who had ascended to the highest office in Ghana.

Drawing inspiration from this statement, President William Akufo-Addo, not bearing the name “John”, said he is also a “historian” like his predecessor who became President.