Accra, July 1, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills, on the occasion of Ghana's Jubilee as Republic, has charged people in leadership positions to bequeath the youth a strong legacy and sense of belonging to empower them to commit themselves to the national forward march.
"Fifty years from today, it is the youth of today who would be managing the affairs of the state and we dare not bequeath them a legacy that will kill their sense of belonging," President Mills said on Thursday, in Accra. He was speaking at a luncheon in honour of the aged to mark Ghana's 50th year as Republican state on July 1.
President Mills paid tribute to the nation's senior citizens who worked in the professions and vocations towards the growth and development of Ghana.
He said "This country owes a lot to our senior citizens who have toiled through their youth as farmers, teachers, nurses, soldiers and policemen, workers, doctors and others, contributing to the growth and development of Ghana.
"Most of them hardly receive public recognition during their working life and the least we can don is to appreciate their hard work and effort every 1st July".
Ghana attained the status of a Republic on July 1 1960, as sequel to the attainment of independence on March 6, 1957, led by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
From that day, July 1, 1960, the Queen of England ceased to be the Head of State and the new independent Ghana took absolute control of its own destiny.
The celebration of the aged to mark Republic Day was introduced into the national calendar by the Administration of former President Jerry John Rawlings 15 years ago, and it was maintained by the Kufuor Administration and is being observed under the Mills government.
While appreciating the contribution of the senior c itizens, President Mills reiterated that he was committed to managing the affairs of the state in an open, honest, truthful and transparent manner. "I have committed myself to serving Mother Ghana; I will serve to the best of my ability."
The President said that his Administration was open to constructive criticism, but cautioned against invectives and name calling in the course of political discourse.
"It is important that as we soldier on to build the Better Ghana we desire we do not reduce our political discourse to invectives and name-calling.
"Some of use can take the name calling, but not all of us can. And sometime, you cannot predict what those who cannot take it may be tempted to do. It is a danger that we must all guard against. This is so whether it is a discourse within our own parties or between and among parties," President Mills said.
President Mills recalled that Ghana attained Republic status through unity and said it should be maintained in building a Better Ghana. He explained that government had had to take some tough decisions, especially concerning the oil industry in the supreme national interest, which had hurt some interests.
President Mills said: "I did not regret taking that decision, and given the opportunity again, I will do same for as long as the interest of Ghana continues to remain paramount in the Better Ghana agenda of this administration.
He said "As more oil continues to be discovered, God forbid that prevent the generality of Ghanaians from benefiting from the oil revenues. Ghana's oil belongs to Ghanaians and Ghanaians will benefit from this God given natural resource find."
President Mills reiterated the nation's appreciation to the Ghana Armed Forces, the nation's sportsmen, and professionals who had been in local and foreign service, and prayed for the success of the Black Stars in the next stage of the Fifa tournament in South Africa. He invoked divine blessings on the aged so that the younger generation would drink from their fountain and experience as they tackled the challenges of nation building.
Colonel (Rtd) David Iddisah, and Mr Edward Ameyibor, both senior citizens, thanked government for the reception and expressed concerns of the aged.
Colonel Iddisah appealed to government to make the treatment of kidney disease among the aged free, and harped on the need to improve discipline, especially among the youth.
Mr Ameyibor, who is also the General Secretary of the Ghana Pensioners Association and former President of the Ghana Journalists Association, called for national unity devoid of partisanship and ethnocentrism. He also called for work to be fast-tracked on the National Policy on Aging, which is now with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, to sent to Cabinet for consideration, so that "we will grow graciously toward building a Better Ghana."
Mr Ameyibor appealed to government to increase the pension pay in the face of the increase in the minimum wage.
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