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EOCO petitioned over Rawlings cash gift from Abacha

Dr Henry Lartey, the flagbearer of the GCPP had earlier said the ex-president has lied to Ghanaians about the amount of money he received from Mr Abacha, saying Rawlings received $5million and not $2million as he had earlier claimed.

Former President Rawlings

In his petition, Dr Lartey asked: “The full context and/or reason(s) in which the funds were issued: In particular, were these funds issued in support of killing the prominent Nigerian environmental journalist Ken Sara-Wiwa?.”

Former President Jerry John Rawlings recently lashed out at critics who criticised him for receiving a cash gift from the former Nigerian president, saying it will be a triumph of evil if people believe such a 'dirty charge' against him.

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His comments follow an interview he had with The Guardian Newspaper in Nigeria in which he confirmed receiving  $2 million from Gen. Abacha.

In 1998, the Rawlings regime denied ever receiving the cash gift after the Chronicle Newspaper reported it.

He was also defended by NDC Members of Parliament when the issue was raised on the floor of the House at the time by the minority New Patriotic Party.

Rawlings resurrected the issue after he told the Guardian newspaper that he had received $2 million contrary to media reports that he received $5 million from Gen. Abacha.

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His critics have linked the gift to bribery, while others have hailed him for being honest on the matter.

In a push to defend his anti-corruption image, Rawlings told the Daily Graphic Newspaper in an interview that people should search for something else if they are looking for something negative about him.

He argued that his integrity will not allow him to accept a bribe.

Read the full petition below:Economic and Organised Crime OfficeHead OfficeAccra, GhanaPublic Petition Of Inquiry/ComplaintPetitioner: Great Consolidated Popular Party (and the Ghanaian Public at Large)Respondant(s): Mr. Jerry Rawlings, and Nana Konadu Ageyaman RawlingsDear Commissioner,The Great Consolidated Popular Party is requesting a formal petition of inquiry into key dealings of former President Jerry Rawlings. The thematic areas of inquiry/complaint are the following:1. The historic public record notes that in 1998 Former President Rawlings denied having received financial support from the then President of Nigeria, Sani Abacha. Today, he has publicly declared that he did in fact receive $2 million from the Nigerian President. This petition of inquiry seeks to ascertain:2. The full context and/or reason(s) in which the funds were issued: In particular, were these funds issued in support of killing the prominent Nigerian environmental journalist Ken Sara-Wiwa?3. The actual amount of funds issued (as there are discrepancies regarding the amount): Did he receive $2 million, $5 million, or $100 million?4. What happened to the remaining £30 million loan from the initial £31.5 million that was issued by the Royal Bank of Scotland to International Generics (for which Mrs. Rawlings was the primary benefactor through a ‘frontman’ named Leon Tamman) under the British Export Guarantee Facility for the construction of La Palm Hotel and Coco Palm Hotel? It has been reported by the former Deputy British High Commissioner in Ghana, Greg Murray, in his book entitled ‘The Catholic Orangemen of Togo and Other Conflicts I have Known’ that only £1.5 million of the funds actually went towards the development of these enterprises, while the remaining £30 million was privately looted by Mrs. Rawlings via Leon Tamman. Is this true?5. How did the Former First Lady Mrs. Rawlings acquire the Nsawam Cannery in light of her financial capacities at time?6. Is it true that the Rawlings hold substantive shares within the Ghana Rubber Estate Ltd.?7. Is it true that the Rawlings were using transporting gold to Switzerland on a regular basis?8.The Black Star Shipping Line was sold during the Rawlings administration: What was the reason for selling the Black Star Shipping Line and its assets?9. In 1979 the AFRC opened Account 48 for the deposit of seized funds which were deemed corrupt. What happened to the funds of Account 48?We trust that Former President Rawlings will answer these questions honestly since he is the Champion of probity, transparency, and accountability.The full support of EoCo is herewith called upon in this petition.Yours faithfully,Dr. Henry Herbert LarteyPresidential CandidateGCPP

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