Ghana would not lose her soul - Kufuor

President John Kufuor said on Thursday that the nation would preserve her ancient and cultural civilization in spite of the government's drive to utilise modern technological advancement to improve the socio-economic well-being of Ghanaians.

Delivering his third State of the Nation Address to Parliament, President Kufuor cited Malaysia, India, Japan and China as countries that had balanced modernity with ancient civilization and declared: "I trust that while modernizing the economy and social conditions, Ghana will not lose her soul."

President Kufuor said government would assist the Accra Metropolitan Assembly to transform Accra, the nation's capital, into what he termed, "the true gateway to the Sub-Region," and enhance its aesthetic appeal. He said the old parts of the city would be regenerated under a project designed jointly by the government and UNESCO. The Redevelopment Project for Accra would be launched later this month, he said.

President Kufuor's address focused on the five priority areas of the government aimed at accelerating national growth, his special initiatives to spur the private sector to lift the economy, the Dagbon Crisis and other key areas of concern to the nation.

The priority areas are Infrastructure Development, Rural Development Based On Modernizing Agriculture; Enhanced Social Security With Emphasis On Health And Education, Good Governance and Private Sector Development.

On what President Kufuor termed as 'Coming to terms with our past' he recalled some of the proceedings at the National Reconciliation Commission and said; "The proceedings so far have strengthened my conviction that the reconciliation process is good for the nation," he said.

"I hope that those who were sceptical about the worth of the Commission, or had fears about its impartiality, have been won over," he said, and urged the Commission to speed up the healing process.