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Former Ghanaian President Rawlings Seeks Injunction Against Book Launch

August 20, 2014

Former Ghanaian president, Jerry John Rawlings, has filed a writ at an Accra Fast Track High Court seeking to restrain the country’s former ambassador to the United Kingdom Professor Danso Boafo from going ahead with plans to launch of a book titled 'JJ Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana'.

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Jerry Rawlings, Former President Of Ghana

Mr. Rawlings wants the launch of the book, which was scheduled for Wednesday, August 20, suspended pending the court's ruling. In his affidavit in support of the writ, former President Rawlings is praying the court to place an injunction on the book. He says the former ambassador reneged on an earlier agreement not to publish until he has reviewsed the book.

According to Mr. Rawlings, there was an earlier agreement between himself and Prof. Danso Boafo to have him (Rawlings) review the book and correct any factual inaccuracies that may be contained in it before publishing.

The affidavit stated in part that Professor Danso-Boafo “has breached his own solemn undertaking with me and has published the book 'J.J. Rawlings and the Democratic Transition in Ghana' with the view to launching same on Wednesday, 20th August 2014 at 4:00pm at GNAT Teacher’s Hall, Accra.”

It added that “The Defendant/Respondent has not extended due courtesy to me relating to the agreement aforesaid and had dropped a special invitation inviting me to the launch of the unapproved book.”

Explaining details of the agreement, the former president said "Sometime in 2006 the Defendant/Respondent approached me that he intended writing a book on my role in Ghana’s history with strong emphasis on how I transitioned from military rulership to constitutional governance."

After receiving the request, Mr. Rawlings said he told the Professor that he welcomes the idea on condition that he is given the opportunity to review the final manuscripts with the view of correcting any factual inaccuracies before it is published. "I strongly insisted that I am not averse to him making me the centre of his intended political and intellectual pursuit, provided always that the Defendant/Respondent will make available to me the manuscript for my prior approval for purposes of accurate historical facts and analysis." He said there was a mutual agreement to this effect.

He continued that Professor Danso Boafo duly completed his draft of the book and sent him a copy of the manuscript. A letter acknowledging receipt of the manuscript was sent to the author on March 1, 2012. Mr. Rawlings said in the letter "I was emphatic that I handed over the transcript to a team of literary and legal experts to evaluate and recommend amendments where necessary given the undeniable fact that the Defendant/Respondent’s whole academic enterprise centres primarily on my person." The former ambassador however did not wait for the final clearance before publishing the book and going ahead to announce a launch, he lamented.

Mr Rawlings says it is imperative for him to review the manuscript because it contained "several inaccuracies, misinformation and slants which have the potential to poison Ghana’s historical records and democratic evolution as well as bring my name and family into disrepute."

Mr. Rawlings, then a Flight Lieutenant in the Ghana Air Force, came to power on the heels of a 1979 coup d'etat after which he handed over to Hilla Limann only to come back in 1981 via another coup. He remained military Head-of-State until 1992 when he dropped his military garb and run for president as a civilian. He won the 1992 election and stayed on in power for another 8 years before handing over to John Kuffour in the year 2000.