Accra (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. '99 -

Professor Kofi Awoonor, presidential staffer, said Wednesday that democracy does not simply connote the freedom of the individual, the press and the church but obligations and duties as well. Prof. Awoonor, a diplomat and renowned writer, was delivering the 42nd Independence Anniversary Lecture on the theme "Democracy, National, Unity and Stability". He said democracy cannot be limited to Parliament while there is hunger and suffering in the rural areas but must be a process which involves the grassroots in decision making adding development must address the basic needs of the people such as water, education, health and shelter. Democratic principles, he noted, emanate from the African traditional system of government where the chief is regarded as the head. "The important hypothesis forcefully established by our immediate history cannot be ignored in our efforts to chart a future path of national development. "Until countries become nations and tribal sentiments give way to national goals, there will not be any democracy," he added. Mr Charles Heyman, former ambassador plenipotentiary in the First Republic, traced the political history of Ghana and stressed the need for Ghanaians to go back to their roots. He called on Ghanaians to boldly sustain and defend the price won for us by our forefathers.