Ghana Post honours late President Mills

Dr Edward Omane-Boamah, Minister of Communication, said with the postal sector worldwide undergoing an era of unprecedented change, the business models of postal companies needed to transform to survive.

He said the postal sector had been affected by the continuing decline in the letter mail sector and the rapid evolution of Information and Communication Technologies.

“Ghana Post is not an exception. Your task is daunting but not insurmountable,” he said and pledged government’s continuous support to ensure the sustenance of the service.

Dr Omane-Boamah was speaking at the launch of commemorative stamps by Ghana Post in honour of the late President John Evans Atta Mills. The launch also coincided with this year’s World Postal Day.

The stamps, which come in various denominations, depict pictures of the late President from his youthful days through to his election as President. The Minister said it was delightful that Ghana Post had recognised the need to immortalise that great man who proved his virtue in deeds.

Dr Omane-Boamah said President Mills worked tirelessly to improve the lives of Ghanaians and helped to promote economic growth in Ghana in the midst of challenging global circumstances.

“He had the temperament to easily accommodate all shades of opinions. He was ready to listen, forgive and offer genuine guidance. He believed in the youth. Even in his death, echoes of his unalloyed preference for peace continue to reverberate,” he said.

“In other parts of the world, personalised stamps for both individual patronage and corporate consumption serve as a significant source of revenue to postal companies because those postal administrations have been able to sensitise their customers to buy into the concept,” the Minister said.

He urged Ghana Post to reposition its philately business in the light of the current personalised stamps sales and introduce the service prominently at postal counters for the benefit of customers and corporate clients.

Dr Omane-Boamah said there was the need to forge a blend of the physical infrastructure it had with electronic and financial inclusion models for speedy development of the postal business. This, he said, would ensure growth and profitability for the realisation of full commercial status by the end of 2015.

He also urged the institution to go beyond renting it premises to other companies and adopt more financial rewarding models. Mr Samuel Adu Boafo, Acting Managing Director, said the day allowed the organisation an opportunity to honour a man who led the nation on the path of growth.

He said the late President Mills was a man of peace, social justice and stability and it is right to honour such a personality. Mr Boafo Ghana Post had introduced various packages which had brought improvement in the revenue generation and appealed to government to support the organisation.

Dr Cadman Mills, a retired diplomat and a brother of Professor Mills, thanked Ghana Post and the Ministry of Communications for honouring his late brother saying “I stand on behalf of the family, his son and wife, Mrs Naadu Mills to commend you for the honour done our brother”.

He said he appreciated the way Ghana Post portrayed Professor Mills as an ordinary man who achieved much through his love and dedication for the country.

“I thank you for honouring him, the country thanks you for honouring him, the whole Africa thanks you for honouring him because he was such a simple man who had achieved so much for Ghana and Africa at large,” he said. Ghana Oil Company (GOIL) bought the first album of the commemorative stamps for GH¢5,000.