The late President Jerry John Rawlings’ June 4 revolution in 1979 was sparked by economic conditions in Ghana that, according to the National Democratic Congress’ (NDC) presidential candidate, are worse now.
He argued that the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) poor leadership is to blame for the nation’s economic difficulties, rising inflation, and corruption.
The June 4th rebellion took place for much less than what is going on in our nation right now, and under the leadership of the NPP, he claimed, the national disintegration will only worsen.
Therefore, Mr. Mahama urged Ghanaians to view the 2024 general elections as a new kind of revolution in order to choose the NDC to seize control of the nation’s affairs and assure decent governance.
In order for Ghanaians to understand that we’re not doomed to live with this degree of greed and impunity as a people, we must be different from the NPP in government and establish a new standard for administration.
To put a stop to the suffering of our people and give us the chance to start resetting our country, he declared, “A new revolution, this time of a democratic and peaceful kind, must take place at the election of 2024.”
In Hohoe, in the Volta Region, he was addressing during the 44th anniversary festivities of June 4.
A popular and violent rebellion known as the June 4 Revolution or June 4th rebellion occurred in Ghana in 1979 as a result of a confluence of factors including corruption, poor leadership, a lack of military discipline, and civilian and military discontent.
On May 15, 1979, the Supreme Military Council (SMC II), led by General F. K. Akuffo, put then-flight lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings on trial in front of the public for attempting to topple the government.
By charging the government with widespread corruption and pleading for the release of his fellow defendant because he was the only one to blame for the mutiny, Rawlings swung the trial on the government. He was imprisoned pending sentencing. Given the immense hardship, his statement struck a chord with the entire country.
Junior military personnel, including Major Boakye Djan, stormed into the jail where Rawlings was being detained on June 3, 1979, liberated him, and ostensibly connected him to the national radio station to make an announcement.
When Rawlings first addressed the public, he made the now-famous claim that the junior officers had freed him and placed him under their control.
All soldiers were asked to meet with them at the Nicholson stadium in Burma Camp in Accra. The entire nation went up in uproar.