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| We should be careful not to miss our way again- JAK |
2/9/2007 |
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Accra, Feb. 8, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Thursday rallied Ghanaians to cherish the national Constitution and to appreciate the values that had helped the country to rediscover itself. "We have recovered our track and are making headway. We should be careful not to miss our way again," he said in his one hour fifteen minutes State of the Nation address to Parliament.
President Kufuor said although it was true that the country had fallen short of the high aspirations with which it was ushered into independence 50 years ago, it was equally true that it had recovered its track and was making steady progress.
He said the people should therefore use the opportunity of the Golden Jubilee Celebration to uplift their spirits and the national psyche.
"This is the time to take pride in our land and in ourselves, let us celebrate Ghana."
He dismissed the argument by a section of the society that there should be no celebration of the Jubilee year of nationhood because of poverty saying, "Let us be careful that we do not become known as those who know the cost of everything and the value of nothing."
President Kufuor used the occasion to appeal to the traditional societies to be mindful of the need for peace as the bedrock of the country''s development.
They should therefore shun all matters likely to degenerate into conflicts and instability in their respective areas. "I find it necessary to make this appeal because of continued reports from all over the country. As much as possible, all misunderstandings should be resolved peacefully or with recourse to the law."
President Kufuor also touched on the menace of drug pushing and trafficking, which was threatening not only the peace and security of the nation but also its image and reputation and expressed the government''s determination to mount an onslaught to remove it from the society.
He said in partnership with concerned international agencies they would wage a relentless war to eradicate the menace and called on all parents and responsible citizens to support the effort. Regarding the unanimous decision by the African Union (AU) at its just-ended Summit in the Ethiopian Capital, Addis Ababa, that Ghana chaired the Union, he said this was an honour for the entire country. "Clearly, our policies are yielding results both locally and internationally. Ghana will use this unique opportunity to advance the cause of peace and development on the continent."
On foreign policy, President Kufuor said it remained committed to its international bilateral and multi-lateral obligations. In addition, it would maintain its policy of good-neighbourliness at the sub-regional and continental levels and continue to play active part in peacekeeping programmes in a bid to promote global peace.
Source:
GNA
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