Korle Klottey MP, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, says it is a sign of immaturity when people attack children simply because they dislike their parents.
Speaking on the latest edition of JoyNews’ podcast Talk No Dey Cook Rice, she stressed that she would never turn her back on her parents, despite the criticisms that followed her late father, Jerry John Rawlings.
“I will not publicly or privately turn my back on my parents, because I know what they did. I’m also aware of the sacrifices they made,” she said.
She noted that her father took responsibility for many things that were not directly his doing.
“As a leader, he decided that he would let the buck stop with him. A lot of things that many people had accused him of actually had nothing to do with him, but he took ownership of everything, because that’s what you do as a leader.”
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings recalled her father apologising for the excesses of the revolution, even on behalf of people who acted without his knowledge.
She added that people who know the truth about certain events have stayed silent for reasons best known to them.
The MP said she has lived by her father’s advice not to inherit his enemies.
“Don’t make enemies of your parents’ enemies,” she remembered him telling her when she was a child. That, she explained, shaped her philosophy not to treat people badly because of their associations.
She condemned cowardice and callous behaviour.
“I have no respect for people who are cowards. If you have something to say, own up and say it. I don’t appreciate people who feel that they should be callous because they can.” For her, leadership should be marked by humility, decorum, and respect.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings also reflected on her own experiences of being targeted because of her background.
She said some children in school would make comments aimed at her because of who her father was.
“I’m very aware of the level of abuse that people throw around,” she said, adding that it has shaped how she runs her campaigns.
She refuses to allow abuse on her platform, knowing what it feels like to be on the receiving end of things she had nothing to do with.
On how she copes, she pointed to prayer and surrender.
“To a large extent, I do pray a lot. You just surrender certain things and you just pray for the grace to move on and just to keep focused.”
She said her belief in destiny keeps her grounded.
“When it comes to how God determines things for you, if God says that this is the role that you’re supposed to play, that is what it is; only you can change that.”
She warned against being distracted by attacks.
“Sometimes people realise that they can see the level of conviction you have. They try to make you feel bad, so you walk away from what you believe in. If you react too much, you lose your pathway, and then they’ve won.”