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News Statement: Mills' Independence Day speech
News Statement: Mills' Independence Day speech
| Statement: Mills' Independence Day speech |
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 54th Independence Day Celebration Address By His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mill, President, Republic Of Ghana. March 6, 2011
His Excellency Vice President John Dramani Mahama, Right Honourable Speaker Her Ladyship The Chief Justice, Ministers of State, Hon. Members of Parliament Members of the Diplomatic Corp, Service Chiefs, Traditional Religious Leader, Good Morning Fellow Countrymen, Ghana is 54 today and we give thanks and glory to God Almighty for seeing us through the long journey that has brought us this far. Though the journey has been long, and sometimes arduous, we cannot fail to acknowledge the fact that we are a blessed people living in a blessed country. Today is not just a day for remembering the day our dear nation was born; it is also a day for paying tribute to the Founding Fathers and the gallant men and women who toiled to give freedom and nationhood to this land of our birth. We also owe a depth of gratitude to generations of Ghanaians who contributed and continue to contribute to giving Ghana a unique identity that stands us tall. As a Government, we continue to dedicate this day to you the youth of Ghana. The future of Ghana belongs to you the youth and on a day like this, it is only right and proper that you are allowed to be in the forefront of our Independent Day Celebration. Beyond our desire to build a Better Ghana, discipline and hard work are two important ingredients that are essential for the nation’s development as well as your personal development. It is only through discipline and hard work that you can stay focused on your goals. It is only through discipline and hard work that you will be able to take advantage of the opportunities that will come your way. It is only through discipline and hard work that you will be able to take over from us and become the future leaders of Ghana. Indeed, if you did not hold on to the principles of discipline and hard work, you would not have acquitted yourselves well this morning with your brilliant display of marching and gymnastics skills. Ayekoo to you and your instructors for a job well done. Sons and daughters, Ghana will not be destroyed from the outside; this dear nation of ours will be destroyed if we decide to lose our sense of direction. That is why it is extremely important that as the youth of today, you must become the leaders of tomorrow with a sense of belonging and direction which will continue to keep the Ghanaian spirit alive. The Founding Fathers blazed the trail; generations have kept the flame alight; those of us in leadership position will endeavour to contribute our quota to nation building; it will be the turn of your generation in the years ahead. You will be the ones telling Ghana’s story in the next 54 years, and you must commit yourselves to telling a bigger and better story. As a Government, we will do our utmost best to create the opportunities that will allow you to develop your potential to its fullest. We will provide more schools; free uniforms; free textbooks; and endeavour to make Ghana a safe place for you to pursue your dreams; you will have to play your part by positioning yourselves in a way that the best part of our existence will not pass you by. Government will not renege on its responsibility of giving teachers their due for them to give you the solid foundation that will support the structures of your future growth and development. Teachers of Ghana, we appreciate your invaluable contribution to nation building. Indeed, the nation thanks you for supporting and participation in today’s celebrations and I assure you that we will not let you down. Whatever anomalies that have resulted out of a genuine attempt to migrate teachers onto the Single Spine Salary Structure is regrettable and every effort is being made to correct the slip. Sons and daughters, in this year of action, it is expected of you to inject a lot of action into your academic work. The action must be positive and not negative. Above all things, always remember that there is a Supreme Being to whom we owe our existence. Fellow Countrymen and women, I have no doubt that, the Ghanaian spirit that has defined our past and kept us united in spite of our varied backgrounds, will lead us into the future in a purposeful manner. The Ghanaian spirit which has endured, will endure even stronger as we put our shoulders to the wheel and build a Better Ghana. Fellow countrymen and women, I am very confident that we will not fail; we will succeed! May the 6th March continue to bring back good memories of what our independence day means to us and spur us on to continue to rollout the vision and mission of the Founding Fathers. Congratulations to all of us and I wish each and every Ghanaian home and abroad a happy 54th Independence Day celebration. Thank you for your kind attention and may God bless our homeland Ghana and continue to make our nation great and strong. Source: www.ghana.gov.gh
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| Last Updated on Monday, 07 March 2011 11:10 |