Kufuor urges Ghanaians to be mindful of their utterances

Accra, July 1, GNA- President John Agyekum Kufuor on Tuesday urged Ghanaians to be mindful of their utterances, especially political utterances as well as their social and cultural conduct in order not to give cause for tension and instability in the society.

"I call on all citizens, including our media practitioners, party functionaries, social commentators, chiefs and religious leaders to be mindful of their utterances, especially political utterances, as well as their social and cultural conduct so as not to give cause for tension and instability in the society".

President Kufuor was speaking at a Republic Day Luncheon for Senior Citizens at the Banquet Hall in Accra.

It was organised by the National Celebrations Planning Committee (NCPC) as part of activities marking the 43rd anniversary celebrations of Republic Day.

President Kufuor said it was important that all Ghanaians enjoy peace in the society especially the Senior Citizens who should be assured of peaceful and harmonious retirement life.

"Food, clothing, shelter and good health are very important but these alone would not automatically grant any of us let alone our Senior Citizens the needed peace. The threat of looming danger creates emotional tension, which undermines national peace and security", he said.

President Kufuor said government had endeavoured to ensure peace and restore public confidence through democratic governance, rule of law, transparency and accountability while various institutions of governance were being resourced to function effectively.

He said the security agencies were grappling successfully with the menace of violent crime and general social disorder which were becoming rampant in society not too long ago.

President Kufuor said law enforcement that suffered neglect in the past was being attended to with the modernization of the courts and plans were afoot to improve on the inhuman conditions in the prisons and penitentiary institutions in the country.

"The campaign for greater discipline is also being stepped up to anchor the general drive to better the economic and social development of the country", he added.

To the Senior Citizens, President Kufuor said government was committed to stabilise whatever positive developments that had taken place in the country so far and build on them to sustain continued normalcy.

He said government want to realise a solid social foundation that could support a rapidly growing economy to yield quality education, health delivery service, good governance and a democratic and open society that would take care of all its citizens from the cradle to the grave.

"This society which we are trying to build, should be one that would continue to care for its senior citizens and accord them the respect and honour that they deserve", he added.

Reverend Professor Emeritus Kwesi Dickson, President of the All African Conference of Churches (AACC) on behalf of the Senior Citizens thanked the government for recognizing the contribution made by the Senior Citizens for the socio-economic development of the country.

He said " we need to live in such a way to have the aged to be able to live reasonably comfortable and without much stress because they were young or aged, they were Ghanaians".

Rev.Dickson appealed to government to continue to care for the aged in society. President Kufuor on arrival at the hall accompanied by the Vice President, Aliu Mahama shook hands with the guests who after their meals were entertained to music and dancing by the Ghana Dance Ensemble, C.K. Mann and the Ghana Police Service Band.