in recognition of his contribution to peace in the West Africa Sub-Region"

A side event at the recent well-attended and oversubscribed dinner dance organised by the NPP UK and Ireland branch was the presentation of a special police cap to President Kufuor in recognition of his immense contribution towards securing peace in the West Africa sub-region.

In his characteristic demeanour, President Kufuor accepted the token presentation and wore the cap amid cheers and admiration of the gathering.

“ I wish to thank the Metropolitan Police Diplomatic Protection Group for the gift and at the approriate time I will use the cap”, he told the gathering.

The dinner dance held at the plush Savoy Hotel attracted hundreds of party faithfuls and key dignitaries. These included Hon. Nana Akufo Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yaw Osafo Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Mrs. Mercy Bampoe-Addo, Deputy Minister at the Office of the President, Hon. K. T. Hammond, Deputy Minister of Energy, H.E Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana’s High Commissioner to the UK , Mr. Kwabena Agyepong, Press Secretary to the President and Mr. Ampratwum Sarpong, Chairman of the UK and Ireland branch of the party.

The dinner event, interspersed with the singing of party songs and popular NPP appellations was also attended by party functionaries within the UK and Ireland and friends of Ghana.

Speaking at the event, President Kufuor told the gathering that the people of Ghana were steadily feeling the impact of Positive Change in all spheres of national endeavour.

He noted that within the international community Ghana’s image had suddenly soared high and appreciation had been shown for the government’s efforts to create wealth for the people of Ghana.

He praised the party members for their unflinching support which resulted in a resounding victory for the party in the 2000 elections, a contribution which, he said, had helped create “something good for the nation”.

President Kufour observed that through that support, the people of Ghana had helped lay a solid foundation for themselves and create an environment for good governance. President Kufuor explained the rationale and the underlying concept for the National Health Insurance Scheme and pointed out that the passage of the relevant law was a bold attempt by the NPP government to safeguard the lives of Ghanaians who for obvious reasons, could not pay for their medical bills.

He stated that every effort was being made to step up the momentum in the IT sector and described as laudable the establishment of the centre of excellence in Ghana in collaboration with the Indian Government, where trainers will be trained to train people in the sub-region.

He added that with that development, “Ghana will be pursuing a broadband policy of inter-connectivity throughout the country and the sub-region to enable the country to be connected to the mainstream of globalisation”.

President Kufuor spoke at length about government’s plans to reconstruct some of the major roads into dual carriageways and announced that work had started on a number of roads including the Accra-Kumasi and Accra-Aflao roads.

Other issues highlighted by President Kufuor centred on the need for Ghanaians to take shares in the Stock Exchange and added that steps were being taken to re-juvenate the District Assemblies through the in-flow of money into their areas for development projects.

Welcoming the gathering, H.E Mr. Isaac Osei said the part President Kufuor played in the historic victory of the party was unique and admirable. He said the on-going process of positive change in Ghana was taking place in an environment buttressed by the liberal democratic practices of the NPP.

The High Commissioner said evidence in today’s Ghana showed a fundamental realignment of the political and social forces in favour of adherents of democracy principles of good governance, the rule of law, freedom of association and the right of the individual.

He stressed that it was against this background that the NPP government should not allow the minority which believed in taking the short-cut to power for self aggrandisement to reverse the course of progress.

On the performance of the government, Mr. Osei said, amid applause, that the NPP government would not be judged by "the vain threats and boomerangs" of yesterday’s men but by its record in office.

“Those who believed in the President”, he said, “have not been disappointed because he has restored dignity to highest office of the land and the office of the President. Today we are all proud to say that we are Ghanaians.

Honourable Nana Akufo Addo, Minister of Foreign Affairs was optimistic that the people of Ghana would give their mandate to President Kufuor and the NPP government in the next Presidential and Parliamentary elections in order to continue to chart the path of progress for the benefit of the entire nation.

He pointed out that amidst the popular refrain "So far, So good", that the nation was on course "in its determination to consolidate and deepen democratic governance and added that the country was living in an era of the greatest freedom the nation has ever witnessed”.

Hon. Osafo-Maafo, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning spoke at length about the difficulties faced by the NPP government on assumption of office and added that, as a result of prudent measures, macro-economic stability had, been restored, resulting in the reduction of inflation, a halt to the free-fall of the cedi and the reduction in bank rates.

In his remarks, Mr. Ampratwum Sarpong, said the presence of the President at the event attested to his proven faith and belief in the party system which he described as the surest guarantee for good governance.

Mr. Ampratwum added that “the numerous supporters of the party in the UK and Ireland have faith in the NPP government whose politics and economic agenda have liberated the country to rise from the ashes of political & economic mismanagement, corruption in high places, abuse and misuse of power and near anarchy”.

He praised President Kufuor for his pragmatic leadership and commended him for not allowing his sense of judgement by not taking populist decisions which would eventually be to the detriment of the nation.