The name Ghana represents excellence – President Mahama
President John Mahama has said on the occasion of Ghana’s 59th anniversary that Ghana is a beacon on the continent and the name Ghana represents excellence and evokes respect in the comity of nations.
Speaking at the 59th Independence Day parade at the Black Star Square in Accra, the president said that as the first country to attain independence, the people of Ghana continue to define Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s idea of the African personality.
“The name Ghana means something in the world outside of our national borders. It represents a kinship, a determination, a disposition, a resolve. It represents perseverance, it represents dignity, it represents integrity.”
“The name Ghana represents excellence and evokes respect in the comity of nations. So today I applaud the good people of Ghana for continuing to define and demonstrate what Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah described as our own African personality,” the president said.
The 59th independence parade was graced by Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta and President Jose Mario Vaz of Guinea Bissau.
In attendance also were Ghana’s Vice President, Kwesi Amissah Arthur, former presidents Jerry John Rawlings and John Agyekum Kufuor, and some presidential candidates of opposition parties.
President John Mahama said Ghana as the first African country to attain independence, was and continues to be an inspiration to other African countries.
“Today, as our citizens enjoy peace, security and freedom of speech and expect transparent non-violent electoral processes at all levels of government, Ghana is also inspiring other nations such as Guinea Bissau to maintain a consistent constitutional democracy,” he said.
He also noted that “gaining independence in sub-Saharan Africa was not Ghana’s only first” and among other things Ghana was the first African country to provide troops for peacekeeping when the dangers were still unquantified, the first to win the under-17 and under-20 world cups and the first African country to open its borders for the provision of humanitarian aid to transit to the three most affected countries during the Ebola outbreak in West Africa.
The President urged all to “work hard together to keep that black star shining”.
“We may be many and a diverse people but we are one nation with one destiny. One awesome powerful nation whose presence on the world stage as a leader, as a peacekeeper, as a society of warmth and kindness, as a hub of talent, an attendant of culture and heritage and an architect of change cannot be denied,” he said.
By Emmanuel Odonkor