The Anniversary is worth celebrating-Ambassador Debrah

Koforidua, March 1, GNA - The Head of the Civil Service Council, Dr Ebenezer Debrah, has said Ghana had done a lot for itself and for other African countries during the 50 years of independence to merit a big celebration.

He said at a time when it seemed impossible for some African countries to gain independence, the vision of Dr Kwame Nkrumah to link Ghana's independence to the liberation of other African colonies made it possible for many countries to win independence through Ghanaian "pesewas and human resource."

Speaking at a lecture organized by the New Juaben Municipal Assembly as part of the anniversary activities, he condemned people who say Ghana has not achieved much to warrant the celebration. "It's our selfishness, our indiscipline and unwillingness to observe the rules that are in everybody's interest that have impeded the progress of our country."

He said the anniversary provides the opportunity to say thank you to Ghanaian men and women who had served their nation, Africa and the entire world with distinction.

Dr Debrah said Zambia, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Guinea benefited from Ghana in their struggle for independence and the establishment of their civil services.

He recalled years ago when he was Ghana's Ambassador to Ethiopia and said at that time majority of the senior staff of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa were Ghanaians including Mr. Kofi Annan, the immediate past UN Secretary General.

To Dr Debrah these achievements should make Ghanaians proud because despite the fact that much remained to be done, Ghana's independence 50 years ago had impacted positively on the African continent.

Although he agreed that much remained to be done, "the way forward is to commit ourselves to hard work, avoiding the mistakes of the past, use our resources more judiciously and urge others doing wrong to desist from it. The public good should be the principal concern of each of us." He said having served as a civil servant under all the governments since 1954, what he realized was that all the governments, either elected or by military junta, aimed at bringing peace, progress and prosperity to the nation.