EARLY in the morning November, ment had failed. It now appears that the forces Hadad asked KOFI socialist, events.
How did Jerry Rawlings coup on December 81 differ from previous military coups?
Like Rawling's earlier coup in 1979 this one was led by the lower ranks of armed forces. the start left wing activists both mintary and civilian — were part of the ruling PNDC and massive support was immediately forthcoming HIUH WUIKing people shown in huge demonstrations.
of Wednesday Flight-lieutenant Jerry Rawlings, MENSAH, Ghanian to explain the background to these At the time of seizing power, Ghana's economy was bankrupt. Inflation was raging at over 100 per cent and a loaf of bread COSI more the minimum daily wage.
The cedi. Ghana's cur.
rency, .was trading at 16 times its official Talc on the black market.
The cocoa crop, which accounts for 60 per cent of Ghana's earnings was suamccae rou ing areas due to lack of LClSDOEu mismanagement and corruption.
Jerry's COUD LaVe working people the hope that this would be ended How did the PNDC seek to involve the people of Ghana in changing this state of affairs DCICHICC Committees and Workers Defence Committees were set up in the towns and villages, within the army and workplaces. These are popular organs acmocracy sel up to bring decision the broad mass of people.
Their role has been to expose corruption and the hording of essential commodities, to enforce some price control and to inself-help programFLICS Recently the WDC at the partly-British owned Ghana Textiles Printing Company attempted to take over the factory. was attacked by police who wounded a number of workers.
The government intervened, seizing the assets of the company and ordering the expatriate manager to be deported within 48 The PDNC has also mobilised a student task force to evacuate cocoa to the ports, helped set up a national women's organisation, established a training school for ideological and military training of leaders of the PDCs and WDCs and has established Courts to try OCODIC LOT corruption and economic sabotage.
What has been the reaction of imperialist coun Jerry Rawlings tries and other They •d C trying destabilise the There have been threats of foreign invasion through neighbouring countries and there have been some recent clashes the Advance credit institutions and firms have been cancelled and there have been threats of economic CmlOarEO On top of this the world price of cocoa has continued to tal!
Within Ghana reactionary bodies such as the Ghana Ваг Association future of Ghana's revolution?
Since names and numbers of civilian and military arrests haven't been disclosed it is difficult to assess the threat to the PNDC and its implications.
However, it is reported that the right wing with an 'ultra-left faction within the army was responsible. It is also implied that the divisions were on a tribal basis as the people involyed were reportedly from Northern Ghana.
This latter view superficial as it ignores class divisions. However we can De sure tnar imperialism will these divisions to destabilise the revolution.
The lack of a united front of the maior lett. wing political movements could be at the basis of the *slow pace of the revolution' which prompted this gates from 9 until |lam Last week the Home Of reconsider his case, lcc was Lnev sale tey wou this com bined with intimidation of the picket b Khall Pi ison officials, wil campaign until Manchester AA Ucuidil WI! - noL oe deDortea Lo SOULN ATTICa Manchester AA are demanding that Anwar's long and fearful wait by dragge our no ionrer ane matne wil .given political asylum Britain The campaign is now sup ported by the Anti Apartheic BUYCICE -UIE national SCalC adventurist intervention.
So far the June Fourth Movement, Jerry's original power base, and the Kwame Nkrumar nevorunonas SUaTes have merged to form a more radical united front.
The National Democratic Movement which believes Ghana's revolution is in Iis national democratic' stage -has not joined this front.
Immediately following the coup attempt, tens of demonstrated in favour of VULACLS the Rawling's government sle aind demanding eople demanding removal of top civil servants. This clearly inCICaLeO aunG grass roots TematEs seen is how this support can be channeled into clear policies, first, , by ensuring that the PDCs and WDC remain representative democratic organs of the people.
Second, whether there emerge clear economic direction which DICaN TOSHE economy from imperialist domination and satisfy the basic needs of the impoverished masses. It is in this light that the debate around whether to accept the IMF conditions for a loan must be seen.
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Chairperson of Ghana's ruling Provisional Na- tional Defence Council, announced that an at- tempted coup against his 11 month-old govern-
behind the coup were right wing although with the participation of a leading left winger. Walid