Sustain current democratic dispensation as a way of life for all times - Kufuor

President John Agyekum Kufuor on Wednesday appealed to Ghanaians to accept the challenge of sustaining the country's current democratic dispensation as a way of life for all times. It should, in addition, become the basis of national development, he said at the opening of the 58th annual New Year School, at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana, Legon.

The school is being held under the theme: "Ghana at 50, Achievements, Challenges and the Future." It would provide the platform for the participants and the nation to examine key national concerns since independence, the choices that were made and the consequences with a view to providing directions for the future.

About 600 people including District Chief Executives, Members of Parliament (MPs), organized labour and civil society organizations are attending. President Kufuor said the return to constitutional rule in 1992 signaled a new beginning for change and renewal to address the challenges of the country's stagnated socio-economy.

Since then, determined efforts had been made to improve the governance system, arrest the economic decline and create opportunities for the people to pursue productive endeavours to realize their full potential. He said confidence has now been restored in the economy and the nation and that Ghana was one of the few countries rated by the United Nations to likely achieve the Millennium Development Goals within the specified time of 2015.

President Kufuor spoke of the many difficulties and uncertainties that have afflicted the political system during a greater part of the last five decades and stated that despite the difficulties, the goal of nation building has remained on course. He stated that there had been impressive achievements within the last half-century that the nation must be justifiably proud of, citing the massive expansion of infrastructure in terms of good road networks, telecommunication, ports and harbours as well as urban and rural electrification. "

Social services like hospitals, potable water, educational institutions of all levels also experienced rapid and phenomenal expansion." He however, said economic growth that was assumed would come automatically in the wake of Ghana's independence to support the desired rapid development proved to be a mirage.

This, he said, was partly due to the not-too-mature and informed socio-economic management in governance for the first few decades after independence and the complex Cold War influences of the time. President Kufuor declared the Jubilee year, a year of national renewal and said "The stage is set for the accelerated take-off of Ghana as a united and prosperous nation." Professor Daniel Adzei Bekoe, Chairman of the Council of State, praised the School for the opportunity it has been providing for intellectual development.

The New Year School has been organized consistently without interruption for the past 57 years, despite the turbulent political changes. Professor C.N.B. Tagoe, the Vice Chancellor, asked the participants to share the knowledge and skills acquired with the communities when they go back.GNA

Reconcile current and former Presidents - Presbyterian Moderator

The Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Ghana (PCG), the Right Reverend Dr Yaw Frimpong-Manso, has stressed the need for cordial relation between the President and the former Head of State.

He recalled an initiative by the Christian Council of Ghana some time ago to resolve the impasse between the two, but said the attempt was not welcomed. "Despite the insults we received from a cross section of the citizenry, in our desperate attempt to join the two together, it is imperative for the Church to put pressure to ensure that their relationship become healthy," he said.

In a sermon at the induction of the Akuapem Presbytery Chairman of the Church at Akropong on Sunday, the Moderator stated that reconciliation between them would augur well for the development of the country. He noted that, as Ghana was about to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the country's independence, the nation needed unity and reconciliation more than ever before and "the best people to show the way to unity and reconciliation is the former and sitting President".

Preaching on the theme "Christ the universal King," he urged leaders to be mindful of the fact that no authority except that of God was everlasting and called on them to put their trust in Christ, "who reigns forever". He mentioned the rise and fall of kingdoms and the execution of former Iraqi leader, Saddam Hussein as events that gave credence to the fact that no ruler or kingdom was absolute.The execution of Saddam Hussein must make leaders conscious of their actions to humanity when they were in power.

Rt. Rev. Frimpong-Manso described the execution as a sad one and noted that "earthly justice required that those who committed crime against humanity should be dealt with on earthly terms". He called on Ghanaians to desist from the "pull him down syndrome" that had become a canker in the society, which impeded development and progress.The Moderator called for a better approach in the New Year as the nation prepared for the 50th independence anniversary to make way for progress.

The Moderator advised the Presbytery Chairman to discharge his duties as a servant of Christ, the universal King and to desist from all forms of iniquity that could bring reproach. He reminded him that corruption, indiscipline, nepotism, political acrimony and inconsistency of faith among others, were some of the challenges and urged him to put his trust in Christ.

The Presbytery Chairman, Rev. Dr Joseph Obiri Mante, who is a Senior Lecturer at the Trinity Theological Seminary, would hold office for five years. He noted that the accomplishments of the Presbytery required better performance during his term to move it forward and called for the prayers and support. The Presbytery Chairman, said development of the presbytery could not be achieved without the transformation of the lives of the less privileged.

He thanked the General Assembly and the Presbytery Council for the confidence reposed in him by nominating and electing him into that office.
Source:GNA

Gold workers threaten strike on new pay system

Workers of AngloGold Ashanti at the Obuasi mine in Ghana are threatening to stage a demonstration on 2 January to protest a new pay system introduced by the parent company in South Africa.

According to the workers at Obuasi in central Ghana, the new pay system, known as EDICOS, is cumbersome to operate and has led to some anomalies in their salaries.The Chairman of the workers union, Kwarko Mensah, said the EDICOS system is creating a lot of problems for the workers and the union in particular.

He said the union leaders have been criticised for not protecting the workers` interests with regard to the problems associated with the pay system.Mensah said though the Obuasi management team is aware of the problem, they cannot do much about it.

A management source told reporters that the problem is receiving the best of attention and expressed the hope that the workers would see the need not to embark on the demonstration.

Saddam Execution.....Full Cell Phone Footage

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-7532034279766935521
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If you are unable to view the video on the above link, I have it downloaded. Just leave your email at the comments section and I will mail it to you.

Goodbye 2006, Welcome 2007

I have been scouting around for the most appropriate photo for 2007. I think this expresses aptly, what I wanted.
Enjoy this year.

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