31st Anniversary of June 4 Uprising celebrated at Takoradi

Takoradi, June 6, GNA - Nana Toku, Western Regional Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), on Saturday said it was important that party members and cadres understood that the party had its roots in the June 4 Uprising and the 31st December Revolution.

He was speaking at the regional celebration of the 31st Anniversary of the June 4 Uprising organized by the June 4 Movement and Cadres Front at Takoradi.

Nana Toku said members and cadres should know the core values of the party to enable them to act in an acceptable manner to further its goals and ideals and maturely carry the message.

He said in this regard, the regional branch had decided to organize a series of structured educational programmes for the youth wing of the party to bring them more in tune with the programmes and policies of the government and ensure their participation.

Nana Toku cautioned against indiscriminately adopting concepts from other political parties as this could undermine the party adding; "The notion of foot-soldiers is not part of the party". He said cadres and party activists had always been at the forefront of the party's activities and they had brought the party where it is now. Nana Toku urged members of the NDC to refrain from discussing problems of the party in the media, in other words, "wash their dirty linens in public," as there were laid down procedures for addressing internal problems and grievances.

Mr Joseph Cobbinah, Regional Secretary of the NDC, said although the June 4 uprising was history, it was necessary to stamp out those vices in society that prepared the ground for the uprising. He said the vices included insatiable acquisition of properties, lack of accountability and probity, corruption, arrogance and impunity of those in authority.

Mr Cobbinah said the lessons of the uprising should not be forgotten as some of these vices were slowly re-emerging in the society and urged those in leadership positions to help nip them in the bud. Ex-Warrant Officer Class One Issah Salifu, a former Regional Organizing Assistant of the Committee for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR) who presided, spoke of the lack of discipline in the society before the uprising adding; "When a river burst its banks trees fall". He said the activities of the military government in power before the uprising proved that military rule was not the best form of government for the country and it was the responsibility of all to take a cue from the uprising and help protect the country's democratic rule. 6 June 10