Rawlings was Never an Officer Material - Major Rida Hits Back - PART 1 

WHY SHOULD A MAN BE SO JEALOUS ITS BAD JJ IS STILL THE BEST AFTER NKRUMAH

Major Rida’s account is really what I found Rawlings to be. Rawlings thrived on envy. In 1979, all those who had 50,000 cedis and above in their bank accounts, such accounts were frozen and could withdraw 1,000cedis per month. Those who had more than one house would stand the Citizens Vetting Committee headed by Kwamina Ahwoi. Rawlings hated to see others being successful in life. If he didn’t hate successful people, why did he freeze accounts of citizens down to the levels was asked low as 50,000cedis. Look, I was there at Kwame Nkrumah Circle when a guy pulled up in a Ford Mustang and soldiers took the vehicle from its owner and drove it away. It was as if at that time it was a crime to have money or be successful. What citizenry was Rawlings expecting the hardworking Ghanaians to live like poor people? That revolution was a complete disgrace and a waste of time. Now, when Rawlings handed over, he went home with 22 customized Vehicles. Was he not driving a Ferrari when he had an accident on the Motorway? What he got all those years as Head of State and President was good life and wealth. Don’t disturb us guys, know that we were used and deceived.

It’s all because he was a half cast and also luck on his part and I am saying this as a lover of JJ before but in knowing about who owns the Nsawam cannery and even the GNTC I am upset at how we all fell for everything he said There irony is that he himself was never a lover of the white man but his whiteness influenced Ghanaians a lot even today.

Great job Andy TV for using your resources to provide Ghanaians with a lot of unanswered questions about the revolution era. Kudos 👊

Whenever I hear these officers speak I feel their discipline and intelligence. Thanks Major Rida for your side of the story. I really appreciate it.

“Rawlings is not an officer 👮‍♀️ material”, that’s an absolute nonsense. Nkrumah, Lumumba, Stalin, Napoleon, Hitler and many others were not the most intellectually gifted among their peers yet they proved to be great leaders because of their charismas. Riga should be ashamed of himself for all the trash talking, officers like him were around when the Generals were running Ghana’s economy to the ground and they did nothing about it because they were the yessir type of officers benefiting from the corruption and the kalabuley rampant at that time

Any student of Historiography will be excited at these times. The lives and perspectives of people who lived in those times and their experiences, woven together is what makes history. I grew up under Rawlings and for many years he has been a cult hero. I am understanding him better. For some of the good he intended, I still do admire him. All these things coming to light are only giving me (and the public) a better understanding of our history. We are doomed as a people if we don't know our history and knowing our history is understanding the different perspectives. One-sided perspective is not History. Thank you Major for speaking up. Thanks, Andy for your questioning. This interview is for the Major to tell his story, this is a great interview. It will be good to make Major Rida speak to how he knows what he knows so we can see an opinion from fact.

This man has to read "Outliers". Rawlings was an outlier and they achieve the most. Tell me anyone who changed the world and wasn't disruptive? This man is full of bullcrap. Rawlings was a leader and that is the quality you don't have Major Riga. Read books on management!

He wasn’t an officer material, in other words, it is God Grace that found. It is called abundant Grace!

No need to ridicule the Major. It is apparent that many of the commentators raining insults on Major Rida and anyone who speaks against Rawlings are less than 40years old. I can understand. This attitude is similar to that of the youth who were born during the reign of Augusto Pinochet (Chile) and Nicolae Ceausescu (Romania). Every story told by first hand witnesses are met with insults and branded with unpalatable words. This is because they grew up seeing such figures as heroes without given attention to reports from other sources. This nation/continent is deeply hinged around tribal allegiance. So deep it is that, "my tribe's man does no wrong" attitude has closed our eyes to facts. Some of us DO NOT NEED MAJOR RIDA to tell us the story of 1979. Some of us know at first hand what Siaw/Tata and others went through in the hands of Rawlings. Its been over 70 years since Berlin fell to the allied forces, but to this day, we have Neo-nazies. To many German youth, Hitler was a hero. My humble suggestion; lets be slow to ridicule narrators of the events of May 15th -& June 4, 1979 when it does not praise Rawlings. Know this; IT IS ONLY LIGHT THAT HAS NO SHADOW.

Most importantly, he brought a change to Ghana... Nothing more

Well done Sir, I believe you, because I was with you that day, and after the fight, I was selected to become an escort with Rawlings and protect the AFRC station at the Arakan barracks 5th Battalion, Rawlings is still on this game and the aim is to sensitize the masses about his modus Operandi so that they can make an informed choice especially the youth who were not born at the time.

Jerry was a man of the people and thats why he wasnt officer material. Like a lot of revolutionaries he was more interested in the common people than the pimped up officers. Jerry was a smoker (herbs) and clearly had nothing in common with his peers and superiors.This man is clearly bitter regarding Jerry and the history og Ghana

we are still in enjoying the 4th republic created by Rawlings. The hating must stop

Julie jato...your weakness is coming out now That means if this man wouldn’t have left the GBC, they would not have been a coup.

This man is talking nonsense I was in upper six then. Rawlings was very courageous before the trial panelists. The statement leave my men alone was what endeared the junior rank to him.

Amazing how Major Rida and his shirt blend so completely with the background. Was it a coincidence or planned?

I side with Gabriel, Rawlings knew what he wanted and he knew that those lower ranks will be his helping hand to get what he want.

Major is well educated and controls his demeanor also hes very eloquent but in all I think he feels bitter some how. Sorry Major

Rawlings was a Gee..He took his chances, now how many years later y'all talking... A respected Gangster, straight up

I think mr. Rawlings was ahead of his time, he knew the formula of politics, he knew he needed the low ranking officers to be popular and to get the job done, which as we all know, he succeeded.

Sad thing is, we don’t have Major General Odartey Wellington’s statue anywhere in Ghana and yet we have that stinking Ghandi’s statue. Is it worth it to die for Ghana 🇬🇭

Major Sulemana is now a Dagbomba King. If you see him, nobody will tell you that this guy is a warrior you will see from his demeanor.

Why are all these veterans always descending on Rawlings anytime they are being interviewed.

This story is so comedic, it reminds me of Monty Python's Flying Circus. Ghana has a very comedic history!

We may never know the truth. What is overwhelming is, the amount of people singing the same bad tune about the man. With that amount of physical testimonies against him, if he ever ended up at the ICC, it wouldn’t be good. Only one man has defended him and the allegations so far. I have never been a fan of Rawlings as my father was the only civilian in Acheampongs regime. But as a grown man with better understanding, I can somewhat and with some reluctance, accept his dogs wanted blood and he had very little control of them as their loyalty to him depended on him looking elsewhere. However, as the leader of the regime, he bears that cross. Whether he gave the direct orders or not.

Andy you don’t need a rocket scientist to tell you this man is talking out of jealousy.

What made Rawlings a Hero is that!!Standout to say we are Africans and must develope our own way of doing things you don't sit there and say we inherited this from colonial masters bla bla bla this is why Ghana is the way it is...at least he brought Ghana his far despite your so called statement that he wasn't intelligent but was intelligent enough to move a whole army to take power?how would you call that?He was coward?and you were brave?and he took power despite this huge army group with all your intelligence?See this is the reason I don't respect an educated Ghanaian cos they are only educated to read and write but not to invent...Please!

That means there is nothing positive about my JJ Rawlings. He can speak English he didn't past his English text. How come a white man son can't speak language of his own father!

This is first hand witness. He knew Rawlings and Boakye‎ Gyan personally. They were all young officers who rose up in rank together. Unfortunately for Rawlings he couldn't rise because of his bad behaviour and insubordination and also most importantly he couldn't pass his promotional exams. Apart from what Major Ibrahim Rida is saying... Corporal Adabuga, Nana Adomako Nyamekye, Captain Awuni & even Kweku Baako have similar testimonies. C'mon did they meet and plan on what to say? Let's be serious! They all have collaborating testimonies. There must be some truth in their testimony. And you know the funny part? Rawlings and Boakye Gyan's accounts do not match up. You don't even know who's telling the truth. Even Kweku Baako has confirmed that Rawlings' testimonies do not line up And he's lying. I mean Acheampong & Akuffo were preparing to hand over to civilian government so why 4th June, 1979? And Hilla Limann was constitutionally sworn in as President so why 31st December, 1981? He's not seen anything yet! Jerry Rawlings John Or whatever his name is Hmmm

Fascinating. You should next interview Major Sulemana.

Man, you are just only jealous of Rawlings.

Major Rida????...never heard of him..retired with the rank of Major.Flight lieutenant Jerry Rawlings...became the president twice & the world knows about him.envy and jealousy makes a human being very bitter....the major should give us ideas on how to make Ghana & Africa better...so sad

Rawlings is the Father of modern Ghana. That’s his legacy I believe. 😎🎉

Awesome interview ,kudos ,great narrative ,description of the history of #Ghana insight ,nice one fam

Colonial mentality have not left this man. Rawlings was different & didn't conform to the colonial master's legacies. A revolutionary creates their own. Classism is a threat to human decency.

Rawlings taya rough.! God bless his soul.

So far on this show, only Rawlings’s driver and bodyguard have spoken well of him.

Sir, much as I agree with your assertion a fellow military officer must be a bit diplomatic when talking about is fellow officer. We the officers of today are still learning from you, Sir. Also abandoning your post at the GBC was tantamount to AWOL, RECCE as a unit has other officers to defend it.

So this was class warfare among the enlisted personnel and officers.

When you listen to most of their talks it seems they were been disappointed by their colleague soldiers . Oh🙄

How and why can't Major Rida (Rtd) remember where the officer he handed over to at GBC went with his men but he remembers other little and less relevant stuff. Clearly he is a human being like all the others and has his own account of events to push his agenda.

You as an officer, you were also a coward, stomach soldier, a thief or profit maker that was enjoying from the rot. You hate him or love him he was and still will be a hero from generations to come.His name is written in gold but you we don't know you sir.if not for this interview you are non existent being to be honest with you.

Well well well. This Rida guy has had his say and perfectly has the right to his opinion. Jerry Rawlings cannot be described as a pious person by any means and the Ghana Armed Forces has had a chequered history since 1966 for instance. However, Major Rida's narrative of events leaves a lot to be desired. He can only be described as a live coward. The heroes are dead.

This man is talking out from jealousy.that situation of discrimination which still exist in the military and they can't deal with it is bad.

All this is hatred. Rawlings is Rawlings. That's it.

Rowlings by his actions, as described by you, is a strong believer ln the equality of humanity. That is a strong stand against slavery and colonial mentality. He was out to fight these.

That is not true interpretation of "Standing out of the soldiers way." I think is meant breaking the ranks barriers. This man is a sycophant. He fails to see the driving force - the political and economic situation of the country at that time.

Basically, Rawlings didn't buy into classism, and this Idris chap was willing to be a slave to conformity....unable to think outside the box!

When you are Black you stay Black in your heart for some... Even if they are both fairmen, this guy is only jealous. He is so stupide man

This old man is bitter! Made an utter fool of himself. I stopped watching this at 14:40

These interviews could be instructive if told honestly, without bias, and conducted deeply, I wish this interview had been started with his school type of school, where he currently resides, his decision to join the army and why, sadly the interviewee is too anxious to tell the Rawlings story instead of own and honestly, coming so long after the events makes one wonder? Says a Jamaican away from Africa.

With all of Exaclopidia dictionaries in your head Papa J is the best weather you like it or not.

Yes he was a kitchen material. Criminals are those who hates Rawlings sabotage s him but to me , he is my all tme president till the end of the world

Simply put, there was internal war in the military due to greediness and desire for power. Thank God this conflict didn't spread across our noble country just as it happened in other African countries.

We are waiting for the part2

Why is this channel talking all the time about Rawlings coup can't you guys get enough of this old story

This guy is just jealous of Rawlings achievements . That he says Rawlings was not Officer material is a complete hogwash!

Masa we all no ghana history don't lie to some of us

U know much but Rawlings is the best, God knows the best in us all, papa j is very smart,sharp n very disciplined the people's choice, may his soul rest in perfect peace, we love you more

Major,let me tell you something, all said and done you seem to be very jealous of him If you love your country why didn’t you do what Rawlings did ?

This Rtd Major sounds very bitter of JJ achievements and personata :( to many of JJ remains a great man who changed Ghana forever RIP big fella

Railings was a deep agent of British MI5 in the Ghanaian army. His brief was to identify, find eliminate army officers with socialist ideology. Remember Ghana has strong socialist upbringing.

Andy why don't you invite Braimah Issaka, he's in Norway not too far from England he may be of gud help since you are more interested in re-writing history...

people are dying of preventable sicknesses, roads are bad, rents are high, no jobs for graduates, no decent accommodations etc and u are here jabbing Rawlings. this has nothing to do with putting food on the table for average Ghanaian

Andy I dont think they knew it was Odartey-Wellington

When are we having part 2 of Major Ridas interview.

How did you determine if someone is envious, you were stealing from the mess

It’s is always those who break the rule who make a difference. We know JJ we don’t know you sir!

The comment section for this interview clearly demonstrates why Rawlings was successful convincing the junior rank officers to begin his tyrant rule. That is all . Listen to what the man is saying without your inferiority complex.

all i hear is JEALOUSY 😜

I think this is by far the best interview I’ve watched on AndyTv. You allowed this interviewee to flow without too many interruptions. His account also seem very factual as it is first hand information and they all seem to add up juxtaposed to other accounts on the June 4th I’ve heard. I respect this officer!!

So what if Rawlings was failing his exams not because he was not good but because the panels who were the examiners didn't like him just like this man Riya does because he was the plain type and straight forward type

Rawlings was the best military airmen in his graduating class. It's in the archives.

Is this guy really speaking the truth? You saying Rawlings was a coward, right? Why is it that the brave officers like your self, and those other so called officers your mentioned were not bold and brave to go to the broadcasting house to do the so called announcement you talking about. Men! You guys should shut up and live Rawlings alone. His done his part and left the seen. I like him, Love him and respect him for the eye opening he gave to Ghana and the rest of Africa. Yes there is no Man under the sun on his earth that is a hundred percent perfect.

This sounds like a story of the few high ranking elite who lived good lives telling a story of brave junior ranking soldiers who took over the country. Possible truth, jealousy and self-promotion in his picture.

U run when the second Bach of trups came

Seriously Rawlings can teach major Rida how to speak good English! This man is a sarcastic unbearable liar! That's a most horrible interview I have ever listened How can a major talk so low to embarrass everyone

Pls upload the second part .

Clearly, this man is bitter and envious of Mr. Rawlings from his narrative. I find him rather unfit as an officer material and not Rawlings. A true and well respected officer will not disclose information of a fellow officer in such a derogatory manner. Rawlings did not pass his test and he would hv been kicked out, so what? You failed once and tried again so why comment on his failure. You’re very disgusting and dishonourable for revealing such a sensitive past. Rawlings will go down in history of Ghana forever, what did u do for Ghana? Shameless act.

This interviewee is real down to earth

This is true talk

Rawlings should have a place in the Guinness book of records. Even the late Queen Elizabeth acknowledged him as a persistent coup maker during his hand over to President Kuffour.

How many times should Andy be told Odartey Wellington was Brigadier General ? !! Baba Awuni told him !!! As a lawyer he should be strict with detail

Rawlings set the precedent for Ghana to be respected all over the world.

It was obvious that this man has some hatred in his heart for Rawlings...

Mr. Rawlings with is education is perhaps one of the best Presidents of the 4th republic. He will be up there with Kuffour. His biggest irony is that he still speaks about probity, accountability, and integrity but managed to indemnify himself from his past. That is paradoxical!

Hahaha! Outstanding Rawlings. Non-conformity. 😎😎

Capital nonsense. Don't sit there and address Rawlings as never an officer material. Envy is what is killing some of us .upon all ur qualification u are no where near Rawlings. Old man with no sense.

I completely disagree with u, though you have your opinion. The fact that an individual doesn’t confirm to institutionalisation shouldn’t constitute him a non-officer. I sense jealousy from you. The man is is simply liberal not a zombie like u, sir.

Stop the hating Grandpa; all you spoke about was Rawlings doing this and that for the country. Whether he failed or not, he did something great for mother Ghana, and we see and appreciate him for the great things he has done for us. However, what have you done for the country? Nothing So please stop the hating. I ❤❤❤ Rawlings

why has non of these guys been asked about foreign involvement in all this?

Rida where do you come from? Wao so envious why did you run away?

Ultimately Rawlings changed Ghana, otherwise it would be just another british colony preserved by those like this major.

Not convincing. What you say and what Rawlings did for Ghana are not aligned 😎

Most of us who were clear thinking adults and young adults who experienced the brunt economic hardships of that era will never forget to give Rawlings the respect he deserves in Ghana’s history. It’s quite obvious that conditions at that time was precipitously leading Ghana to the brink of civil war, and the only institution that kept the country together was the military. Similar conditions led to the civil wars in Liberia, Sierra Leone and later the Ivory Coast. The June 4th Uprising was a necessary intervention. All parochial sentiments aside, the younger generation should be told the unfiltered truth. Rawlings is not an angel, same goes with great leaders like Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Stalin, Castro and Nkrumah, all made serious mistakes but that should not stop us from giving them credit were such is due or try to erase all their noble accomplishments.

The comments are great People hate Rawlings because hr came to bridge the vast gap between the rich and the poor,the high class and the low class Hence the song we no go sit down make them chear us everyday . It is paining them up till today like peper

With due respect sir Rida would say Ghana was better off and situations in ghana were moving in the right direction before Rawlings actions? As an elder stateman don't water down someone success just for sentiment. So its rather preposterous for u to assert that a captian in the Ghana Army to be so poor that could not afford a shirt leading to envy? So JJ was envious because the elite and their family were riding the best CAR, wearing designer dresses per se as the most qualify? And at whose expense? so the status quo should have remained for few illegimate one? Elder should we throw the child with the dirty water, though not advocating his perfectedness but to a very large extent he turned Ghana around and it should be appreciated instead of castigating him. Pls let chart the right ideology for the younger generation.

This man is just hating.

Real hatred for Rawlings by this man. Real hater. Repulsed by his unbridled hatred.