Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, the Majority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for South Dayi, has called out Emeritus Professor Ernest Aryeetey, following a claim he made against the late former president Jerry John Rawlings.
In an interview on Channel One TV’s The Point of View on Monday, October 20, Professor Aryeetey claimed that Jerry John Rawlings led Ghana with anger.
Professor Aryeetey is quoted to have said, “Acheampong meant well, Nkrumah had vision, Rawlings led with anger”.
In a sharp rebuttal on X, Dafeamekpor boldly called out the Professor, accusing him of peddling deliberate falsehoods and distorting our national historical accounts.
According to him, they are not going to allow any historical distortion about the ‘legendary Rawlings’.
He wrote, “Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, some of us won’t take this spirit of peddling deliberate falsehoods & distorting our national historical accounts any longer, none more against the legendary Rawlings.
This foul and vile obsession by some of you in academia to diminish the JJ Rawlings & his legacies within the Ghanaian & global political stage hasn’t dimmed one bit, yet you continue to pursue it”.
He further went on to school, the Professor, saying, “If you don’t know the adjective, let me supply it for you. PASSION. For your deliberate attention, the untiring, endearing and ubiquitous JJ Rawlings served with PASSION and not ANGER. There is a world of difference between these two when deployed in a phrase. But I know you know, so it was deliberately chosen by you for some effect.
He added, “Prof. Aryeetey, you thrived as a then young academic under the passionate leadership of JJ Rawlings. No intimidation, and you blossomed to your fullest. That’s not how angry leaders behave”.
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor further highlighted some achievements of the late Jerry John Rawlings, “Prof. Aryeetey, as a Passionate leader, JJ Rawlings extended rural electrification from about around 40% to 73% when he exited. Angry leaders don’t do that.
Prof. Aryeetey, as a passionate leader, JJ Rawlings, introduced elections at the basic levels of our society so that our Assemblymen and Unit Committee members are elected to represent our diverse communal interests at the various Assemblies as far back as 1987.
As a passionate leadership, JJ Rawlings saw to the rehabilitation of the peerless Dr Kwame Nkrumah by giving him a befitting burial
mausoleum at the hallowed Polo Grounds in Accra. Other angry leaders abandoned him in Nkroful to be forgotten.
As a passionate leadership, he transformed our educational sector with the introduction of the JSS, SSS to many communities who don’t have it. Polytechnics to our various regional capitals and increased the stock of our public universities. That’s passion. Not Anger”.
He added, “JJ Rawlings often joined his local folks to do communal labour and encouraged “fale fale fee mor” amongst his people nationwide. That’s passion. Not Anger.
As consummate passionate leadership, JJ Rawlings actually used his personal cash reward of $50k for the the World Hunger Project Prize for his efforts for fighting against hunger in Ghana to establish the now famous UDS.
As a Passionate leader, JJ Rawlings had also been awarded the Clarence Martin Medal for Support of Higher Education, and in 1994, the Martin Luther King Jr. Drum Major award for Justice Award.”
The Lawmaker further reminded Prof. Aryeetey that the late JJ Rawlings was a joint recipient of that famous 1993 World Hunger Award for transforming the Nation of Ghana.
Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor further underscored, “Prof. Aryeetey, may also remind you that, JJ Rawlings, gave this Nation, its longest lasting Constitution and Republic. These are certainly not products of anger but Passion and dedication.
Prof Aryeetey, under the quintessential JJ Rawlings, politicians of different shades, like ex Prez JA Kuffour, got the opportunity to serve under him and contributed their quota to national development. That was a demonstration of passion & selflessness. Not Anger.
Prof Aryeetey, as a professor of Economics, you are certainly aware that when over a million Ghanaians were compulsorily deported from Nigeria, it took the Passion leadership of JJ Rawlings to personally fly some him to Ghana and arrange ships & public transportation to ferry them back home for re-integration. I believe you were here and witnessed those harrowing times. Only a Passionate leader like JJ Rawlings was capable of such feats.
So Prof. Aryeetey, as we say in Ghana, we have carried liquor & we have carried water. Now, we know the marked differences. Next time, pls conceal your anti-JJ proclivities”. He concluded.
See the post below:
1. Prof. Ernest Aryeetey, some of us won’t take this spirit of peddling deliberate falsehoods & distorting our national historical accounts any longer none more against the legendary Rawlings.
— Rockson-Nelson Dafeamekpor, Esq. MP. (@etsedafeamekpor) October 22, 2025
2. This foul and vile obsession by some of you in academia to diminish the JJ… pic.twitter.com/VScXAca6aI