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Let's make conscious effort to minimize tension in the
society-Kufuor
Sunyani, Jan. 16, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on
Tuesday called on Ghanaians to live in genuine national
reconciliation and make conscious efforts to minimize
tension within the society as the country celebrates 50
years of nationhood.
"We should endeavour to rise above our differences, seek
what unites us and to believe in ourselves", he said.
President Kufuor, who was addressing the People's Assembly
at the Christ the King Catholic Parish Hall in Sunyani,
called on the factions to the Yendi crisis to see themselves
as brothers and resolve their differences.
The whole of Yendi and indeed, all Ghanaians, he said, must
lend support to efforts at bringing lasting peace to Dagbon.
The First Lady, Theresa, Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama,
ministers of state, some members of parliament, some members
of the Council of State and traditional rulers were among
the tall list of dignitaries present.
The People's Assembly, an initiative of President Kufuor,
provides the opportunity for Ghanaians irrespective of
social, political, religious or educational standing, to
have face-to-face interaction with the President.
The Sunyani Forum was well attended as the Hall was packed
to capacity and close-circuit television sets were mounted
outside for people who could not enter the hall to follow
the proceedings.
This was the second time it had been held outside Accra.
President Kufuor said it was both sad and unfortunate that a
few ambitious individuals are exploiting the time-tested
institution of chieftaincy to create tension in the society.
"We should allow this institution to continue to be a
rallying point for development and progress. Let me appeal
to our chiefs to let the noble attributes of the institution
come forth to enrich governance of our nation at the local
and traditional levels."
Touching on the Golden Jubilee Celebration, he rallied the
people to shed any doubt or misgivings they might have about
it, saying, it must not be seen as something for the
government and the ruling New Patriotic Party.
President Kufuor said given Ghana's checkered past and its
current attempts at recovery, there could not be a better
time than the Jubilee year to pause and reflect on the
national vision and objectives at independence.
"This should help us to clarify parts of the vision that are
blurred, discard objectives that are no longer valid and
together cooperate to achieve the goals we have set for the
next half century to accelerate our nation into the ranks of
the advancing and indeed the advanced countries."
He therefore invited all the people, irrespective of
political and religious and association as well as
parliament, to become actively involved in the process and
the spread of the "Jubilee Spirit" across the country.
President Kufuor alluded to the national totem, the eagle,
and said the challenge was for all to raise their visions of
themselves, their organizations and the country in the
Jubilee year so that "with our sights high up, we will begin
to fly very high among the advancing nations of the world
where we should belong."
GNA
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