Govt has a duty to serve all without distinction - JAK

Accra, Dec. 23, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor said on Friday that the Government although was a product of a political party, it had an obligation to serve all Ghanaians without being selective or discriminatory.

"Factually and logically, it is the political party that produces the Government, but once it assumes leadership, it must be seen to be there for all including its opponents", he said. This was in apparent response to charges of neglect being made against his Administration by foot soldiers of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP).

President Kufuor was receiving the newly elected National Executive of the Party chaired by Mr Peter Mac Manu at the Castle, Osu. He said the truth of the matter was that they inherited a collapsed economy and the past four years had been that of "sleepless nights, a kind of tight-rope walking by the Government". He said they had to initiate some difficult policies and to make sacrifices to change the economic fortunes and "in the process we all suffered".

President Kufuor said as the ruling party, members and supporters must accept to be at the forefront of sacrificing to put the country in a fast lane of progress.

He noted that tough decisions and measures they put in place had paid off with the debt forgiveness by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), saying the World Bank and others would also follow.

He repeated the promise he made to the Party at its recently held National Delegates Congress that the Government would do whatever was permissible within the law to support the Party.

President Kufuor reminded the Executive, that the NPP was a party with great traditions and philosophy of respect for freedom of the individual as well as that of expression and advised them to show total commitment towards these.

He said democracy enjoined people not only to be expressive but also to be accommodative adding; when this was done through balloting it showcased its beauty.

The NPP's Delegates Congress, he said, portrayed the Party in the best spirit.

Mr Mac Manu said they were there to thank President Kufuor for attending the Congress and pledged their loyalty and support to him. He said the performance of the Government had enhanced the image of the NPP and positioned it to re-capture political power in 2008. He said the new Executive was determined to serve as a unifying force, a moving team to energise the Party by staying in close and constant touch with the grassroots.

As humans, he said, they could not lay claim to perfection and pleaded with President Kufuor that if they should go wrong, he should not hesitate to correct them. 23 Dec. 05