I used Abacha's $2m for 'nationalistic purposes' - Rawlings

Europa

June 5, 2017 9:00 AM

The former President disclosed this when he addressed a gathering at the 38th Anniversary of the June 4, 1979, uprising held in the Upper West Regional town of Wa Sunday.

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Ghana’s former president, Jerry John Rawlings has said that he used the $2 million gift he received from former Nigerian President General Sani Abacha for the welfare of Ghanaians.

“I used it for nationalistic purposes [and] my comrades in those days knew about it,” he said.

His comments come on the back of claims by some Ghanaians that he used the cash gift for his personal benefits.

It will be recalled that Dr Henry Lartey, the flagbearer of the Great Consolidated Popular Party (GCPP) indicated that the ex-president 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.

He subsequently petitioned the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO) for it to investigate the alleged cash gift.

But the former President denied the allegations, saying he is ready to face off with Dr. Lartey in all fronts including the use of a lie detector.

Mr Rawlings has since alleged that persons within the governing National Democratic Congress financially induced the leader of the GCPP, Dr. Henry Lartey to vilify and destroy his reputation.

Background

Former President Jerry John Rawlings in 2016 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.

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.

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.

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