Kufuor launches Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebrations

President John Agyekum Kufuor on New Year's Eve launched Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebrations in a nationwide radio and television broadcast.

He said; "given the solemnity of the celebration, the highlight of which falls on the 6th of March, let us as a nation usher in that very special day by holding vigil on its eve".

President Kufuor said "the Jubilee Celebration is a unique opportunity not only to demonstrate our unity as a nation, but also to highlight the many opportunities for commerce, business and tourism. It is the occasion to bring to the fore our famed arts and culture and our traditional warm hospitality".

He appealed to the entire nation to display a high sense of responsible citizenship, dignity and commitment to the success of the Jubilee Celebration adding; "sprucing up the home and the environment should be part of the commitment. The sense of pride in our environment ought to be on display not only for the occasion but for all times".

President Kufuor, therefore, urged all including the District Assemblies; Traditional Authorities; Religious Groups; Market Leaders; Trades Unions and the entire civil society to join together to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of the nation in a befitting manner.President Kufuor reserved a special word to the young people of Ghana, saying: "The future belongs to you.

Fifty years ago I was a teenager looking to the future with great hope and expectation. Unfortunately, the experience had not been half as good as most young people of my generation dreamt it will be. "I want to speak on behalf of the elders and adults of this nation and say that, with our resolution of today, we are prepared to set things aright and sustain them, so that the path will be easier and smoother for you.

"But one thing is sure; you must use every opportunity to prepare yourselves diligently so that you will not fail this nation and yourselves when your turn comes. Seize the moment and become worthy citizens of our country", he said.
Source:GNA

Shun those bent on destroying the nation's peace - JAK

President John Agyekum Kufuor has called on Ghanaian Muslims to shun those bent on using undue political influence to destroy the peace and harmony the nation was now enjoying.

They should be wary of people, who through hypocrisy would try to influence them and create division in the society, he said at the national celebration of the Eid-Ul-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, in Accra on Saturday.

Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama and the wife Rahamatu and Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, were among the large congregation of Muslims at the forecourt of the Trade Fair Centre, La for the celebration.President Kufuor said; "Ghana is acknowledged as the oasis of peace in the West African Sub-Region" and that a major contributing factor for this had been the happy and harmonious coexistence of religions.

He said it was, therefore, important for people of the different religious faith to continue to cooperate in the pursuit of peace and to live in peace.He told them that the Government had the best of intentions for the Muslim community and asked for their total support towards efforts at pulling the country out of poverty."Ghana is moving out of hard times.

We are strong where we are now. If we work together and move together, we would be heading towards prosperity."Let us accept as a people, to appreciate the good things happening to our country and work together to sustain them", he said. President Kufuor used the occasion to highlight the impending National Identification (ID) Programme and asked that no citizen of the country should feel threatened by the registration exercise.

The ID would make for easy governance and to enhance development, he said and called on all communities to take part in the exercise. Touching on Ghana's Golden Jubilee Celebration, President Kufuor enjoined the people to have a change of attitude towards environmental sanitation.

He said it should become part of their culture to do away with unsanitary conditions to convince the rest of the world that Ghana was indeed on the path of progress.Sheikh Nuhu Sharabutu, the National Chief Imam, in his message to Ghanaian Muslims said as they celebrated the occasion of the Eid-Ul-Adha, they should not forget the plight of the needy, the less fortunate and the deprived in society.

He said beyond sharing of meat of sacrificed animals they needed to show greater generosity to the poor and the socially disadvantaged. Earlier in a welcoming address, Alhaji Gado Mohammed, a member of the Muslim Council of Elders, said the Muslim Community was grateful to the Government for the Sate Award given to the National Chief Imam. The Chief Imam was awarded the Order of the Volta and this, he said, was an honour they were proud of.
Source: GNA

Offer special prayers for Allah's protection-Mills

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, Flagbearer-elect of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Friday urged Muslims to join their Christian brothers to offer special prayers for Allah's guidance and protection in 2007.




Making the call in Accra, Prof Mills stated that it was the wish of the NDC to see the peaceful co-existence of Ghanaians in the years ahead. He was at the Abbosey Okai Central Mosque to express the party's gratitude to Muslims in the country for their prayers, which resulted in its peaceful National Delegates Congress on December 21.




Dr Kwabena Adjei, National Chairman of the party, Dr Ekwow Spio-Garbrah, one of the four contestants, Mr Jonathan Tachie-Kommey, Member of Parliament for Odododiodoo, Dr E G A Don-Arthur, leading member, and Mr Elvis Afriyie-Ankrah, Deputy General-Secretary, were among dignitaries who accompanied Prof Mills.



Another delegation of leading members of the NDC, made up of Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Mr Eddie Annan, the two other contestants for the flagbearership, Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia, General Secretary and Mr Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, leading member, also joined Ahmadis at their headquarters at Ashongman, near Accra for the congregational prayers.GNA

Political parties declare 2007 Action Year

The main political parties on Friday declared the country's Golden Jubilee Year as Action Year to set the pace for Ghana's fifth consecutive general election under the 1992 Fourth Republican Constitution.The parties described Elections 2008 as a crucial period for the electorate to pronounce judgment on the administrations of the two foremost political forces - the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

In separate interviews with the Ghana News Agency in Accra on their visions for 2007, NPP, NDC and Convention People's Party (CPP) said 2007 would be used to prepare for Elections 2008.Mr Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, NDC National Organiser, said the Party would use 2007 as an 93operational barometer" on the NPP's quest to retain power at the Castle for another four-year term.

"It will then spur us on to launch a progressive programme to dislocate and chase the elephant from the Castle back to the political bush by democratically taking over the reins of governance of the country once again."We will also attempt to provide evidence to persuade the electorate to incarcerate the ruling NPP into political hell (opposition) for four years with hard labour to learn the rudiments of good governance, tents of democracy and adherence to constitutional order.

"Mr Ofosu Ampofo said the NDC's campaign for Elections 2008 starts immediately after the festive season."We are going to fire on all cylinders ...NDC will not wait for any party to organise its primaries to elect a flagbearer. "We are ready to take over the reins of governance once more and we are not going to wait for any party to go to congress before campaigning starts.

"The NDC has already set high standard for the other political parties to emulate them through a peaceful, transparent and orderly election of its Presidential Candidate at their December 22 Special National Delegates' Congress."We are not going to rest until we capture political power once again in 2008 and march peacefully to occupy the Castle on January 7, 2009 to fulfil the wishes and aspirations of the suffering Ghanaians," he said.

Mr Albert Afaglo, NPP Greater Accra Regional Organiser, noted that the Party had earmarked 2007 to oil its electoral machinery, equip executives at the wards, constituencies, regional and national levels and to build the capacity of foot soldiers.He acknowledged that political tension might build up in 2007 but stressed, "The Party is well prepared for the actions.

"Mr Afaglo said as a party in government it would continue to maintain a strong focus of national governance mainly on local government systems, maintenance of law and order as well as human resource development to ensure the country's rapid development. "No country can progress without sound and quality education, discipline and effective participation in decision-making at the local level.

"Mr Afaglo also urged the media to desist from personality attacks and focus on developmental issues that would project and enhance the quality of life of the people.Dr Edmund Delle, National Chairman and Leader of the CPP, explained that the Party would use the year to mainly organise its structures, resource its officials and organise National Delegates' Congress to elect its presidential candidate and other executives.
Source:GNA