PRESS STATEMENT BY JAMES KOFI ANNAN, 2020 NDC EFFUTU PARLIAMENTARY CANDIDATE ON THE OCCASION OF THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE JUNE 4TH REVOLUTION

I would like to congratulate the Council of Elders, the former President and the 2020 NDC  presidential candidate,  John Dramani Mahama, the National Executives, and all functionaries, as well as members of the NDC, on the occasion of the celebration of the anniversary of the June 4th revolution. 

Like Easter is for Christians, Eid'ul Fitr for Muslims, so is June 4th the foundation of the NDC. In spite of the excesses of the June 4th revolution, it laid the foundations upon which our current democracy was built. The June 4th revolution also taught Ghanaians the need to embrace peace and democratic principles in their political decisions, no matter the circumstances. 

As members and sympathisers of the Effutu NDC, the useful lessons this day teaches us i.e RISING UP TO THE OCCASION and ensuring things are done right in the scheme of things, should be a virtue we all would have to cultivate in our daily political undertakings for the survival of the party. Being courageous to tell the truth no matter the effect of it, avoiding the pursuits of self-interest for the larger interest of the masses, and placing value on unity in our circles, should be treasured tuition

A honest trend analysis of events within the party in our constituency for sometime now have shown that, attending to the party until a fresh parliamentary candidate assumes his role, has been an integral expectation of the grassroots of the party. It is for this reason that, being the 2020 NDC Parliamentary Candidate, I decided to shepherd the party until a new person is elected, so as to ensure that no gap exists until the next elections. 

In the NDC we were founded on the principles of integrity,  probity, and accountability. It is the reason why I was exceptionally happy when I heard our Senior comrade and former Lands and Natural Resources, Honorable Mike Allen Hammah (former Effutu MP), publicly declaring that he will voluntarily walk to jail if anyone knows if he personally owns any government land in this country. This is the kind of unquestionable character and integrity that the country looks for in our public office holders. 

May we all, as a nation, use the occasion of the commemoration of the June 4th, to open a new page and begin the process of prioritizing UNITY and eschewing greed, and any divisive acts, which has the tendency of compounding our woes in the party. We either win together, or lose together. 

Remember Chairman Rawlings is gone, but he lives! May his words inspire us into greatness and victory. 

Happy June 4th to us all!!

James Kofi Annan  (2020 Effutu Parliamentary Candidate)