Rawlings wishes Ghanaians Happy X’mas and Prosperous New Year

Former President John Jerry Rawlings on Friday wished Ghanaians Merry Christmas and Prosperous New Year, asking them to consider unity as imperative for national development.

In a statement, Rawlings said, “We must all help build a national unity, which transcends ethnic, political, class and professional boundaries.”

He said that could only happen “when each and everyone of us demands that our political, religious, academic, industrial and traditional leaders pursue a bold and sincere course towards real good governance.

It must be one that eschews corruption, nepotism, tribalism, cronyism and political cynicism. Rawlings said, “as long as we maintain a passive or indifferent attitude towards the persistence of these socially divisive tendencies, we would have betrayed the developmental trust and aspirations that our people (from whom we derive our power and social influence) have reposed in us.”

He reminded Ghanaians that as they celebrated the Yuletide the good Lord would give them wisdom and courage to demand from their leaders that Ghana deserved real equality of opportunity for progress.

Former President Rawlings said, “In this season of peace and goodwill we are also reminded of our obligations to one another and to our nation.

“The joy of sharing a time of celebration cannot be meaningful unless we are mindful of the disadvantaged, the weak and the distressed and unless we are committed to the work of establishing a country in which social justice prevails.”GNA

Methodist Church congratulates Mills

The Methodist Church, Ghana on Friday congratulated Professor Atta Mills on receiving an overwhelming acknowledgement from the National Democratic Party (NDC) to continue to lead the Party for Election 2008.

A statement signed by the Presiding Bishop the Reverend Dr Robert Aboagye-Mensah in Accra said: "We thank God for a peaceful congress...Polling 81.4 per cent of the votes from the delegates indicates strong confidence that your Party has in your leadership."

The Methodist Church wished Prof Mills and the NDC a Merry Christmas and fruitful New Year.

Mills thanks all

Professor John Evans Atta Mills, National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer and Leader on Friday extended thanks to all those who made the party's congress at Legon on Thursday a successful and a momentous one.

He said in a statement: "As Flagbearer and Leader of the Great NDC family, I take this opportunity to thank the delegates and the teeming supporters who made yesterday's congress a momentous one".Prof. Mills said, he was grateful to the delegates for once again reposing their trust and confidence in him, confident of the fact that, "I would lead you to victory in 2008.

" He wished delegates, who travelled from their home regions would reach home safely.Prof. Mills also extended thanks to the executives of the party for the innovative and professional manner in which the congress was conducted which brought glory and good name to the NDC.

"To Alhaji Mahama Iddrisu, Dr. Ekow Spio-Garbrah and Mr. Eddie Annan, I say a special thank you for being part of the process that has deepened internal democracy within the party and also for pledging your total and unalloyed support to the process that would lead the NDC to victory in 2008."He commended the media "for the very professional manner in which they reported proceedings."

Prof. Mills said, "For those media houses that covered the event live and thus allowed a larger audience to be part of the congress, a special thanks to them for doing the NDC the honours."He said he was grateful to 93all the invited guests from within and outside the country as well as our friends in the other political parties, who added their presence to make the congress what it was."

"In this festive time, I hope that as a country, we would all take time to reflect on the year which is passing us by and resolve to enter the coming year with a renewed sense of purpose. "I assure the rank and file of the party that once the calendar reads 2nd January, 2007, the walk to the Castle begins in earnest and there would be no turning back", he added.

Prof Mills said, "Victory beckons for the NDC and I pledge that John Evans Atta Mills would not deny the NDC that victory." He wished all Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Source:GNA

Stranded Hajj pilgrims protest

Hundreds of pilgrims attending this year's Hajj as well as their relatives on Friday besieged the main road of the Aviance Cargo Village near the Kotoka International Airport in Accra in protest against the delayed departure of pilgrims to Mecca. On two separate occasions they blocked the road with sticks, boulders and other objects.

The police cleared the obstacles almost immediately after which the crowd blocked another part of the road. The action resulted in traffic jam and the police presence was reinforced.

None of the Hajj Board members was available to clarify the situation.Ghana News Agency (GNA) investigations revealed that most Hajj members as well as their relatives grew impatient and blamed the Hajj Board for their continued delayed flights.

They said after paying 20 million cedis per a person for the trip they had ended up being given excuses that flight to send them on the pilgrimage was not available. The pilgrims, who were being housed at the premises of the Aviance Cargo Village complained that the conditions they found themselves in was horrible.

A man, who gave his name as Salia said he has been waiting for almost a week, during which he took his bath only once. All efforts to contact the members of the Hajj Board proved futile, as their mobile phones would not ring.

Meanwhile the pilgrims have threatened to hold a protest march to the offices of the Hajj Board if flight was not made available for them on Saturday to embark on the journey to Mecca.
Source:GNA