Former President Jerry John Rawlings has denied claims by Major (Rtd) Ibrahim Rida that he was hurt by his superiors after being asked to refund $4,000 he had wasted.
In a strong-worded statement Sunday, Mr Rawlings said he did not recall being asked to pay back some $4000.
According to him, “if I was asked to, it would make sense considering the fact that I had to cut off the flying instructors’ course in Peshawar, Pakistan right at the beginning of the course and get back to the mission to help save this country by removing Acheampong to enable General Akuffo to take over.”
The former Squadron commander who was almost killed during the June 4th uprising last week narrated to JoyNews’ Raymond Acquah on ‘UPfront’ the reason behind Mr Rawlings bitterness in the running to his first coup attempt.
He was speaking ahead of the release of ‘Scars of the revolution’, a sequel to JoyNews Documentary ‘Who killed the Judges’ which was aired in October 2018.
‘Scars of the revolution’ discloses the act of savagery leading to and the aftermath of one of the country’s darkest moment in history, the June 4th uprising.
Narrating some of the primary causes of Mr Rawlings’ anger, the former Squadron commander said the $4000 was given to the junior rank officer to pay for the cost of a 4-month training course in Pakistan.
According to Major Rida, unknown to the military, the training course had been called-off and Rawlings had to return the cash given.
“He took the money and went round galavanting in Europe,” he recalled referencing a Military Service report.
He said the Armed Forces Command went ahead to deduct the monies from Mr Rawlings’ salary.
But the former President has denied the account describing Major Rida as a treacherous person.
“Do you recall I spun around and jumped from the veranda and planted my body between you and the soldier, to take the bullet for you to save your cowardly life? And you dare to suggest, on a slimy Joy TV programme that I was begging for mercy and to be pardoned? No Rida. 15th May failed because I made it so to prevent the blood-letting that night. Take a look at the trial and tell me that’s the posture of an officer begging to be pardoned,” he said.
