Against the scenery of continuous preach of violence by Williams Addo-Dankwa Akufo-Addo and his opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) in their hunt for power at all cost as regards the 2012 election, His Excellency Professor John Evans Atta Mills, the President of the Republic of Ghana and the Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, has once again assured the nation that he will preside over a peaceful election.

The President gave the assurance in his keynote address to the nation at the 55th Independence Day Parade yesterday March 6, 2012, at the Independence Square, in Accra.

Without mincing words, he stated that as the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Ghana Armed Force, he will ensure that Ghana remains peaceful, before, during, and after this year’s election.

“As a nation, we have no other option but to “sustain the peace” we are enjoying in order to broaden the frontiers of our “democracy and development”
“At no point in time should we take the peace we are enjoying for granted”, the president indicated, saying our fallen heroes and Founding Fathers toiled to give us this dear nation and we dare not destroy what they have toiled to build.
“We must not destroy their dreams. We must strive to ensure that we build a Better Ghana in which the dreams of our children can become a reality”, President Mills added.
“Fellow Countrymen and women, brothers and sisters, Ghana is the only home we have; let us not do anything to destroy this beautiful land of our birth”.

According to him, the best we can do, is to contribute our quota to building that Better Ghana so that the coming generations will remember us for adding to the legacy of the Founding Fathers, and not remember us for destroying their heritage.
“To our sons and daughters; I say, love your country; work hard; don’t give up in the face of challenges; and your dreams will come alive”.

“This day continues to be a constant reminder that with determination and hard-work, there is nothing we cannot achieve as a people, united in pursuit of a common purpose”

“This day also continues to be a constant reminder that given the opportunity, the African is capable of managing his or her own affairs, and rising to the very top”.

“This 55th Independence Day celebration will be meaningless if it is not linked to our collective resolve to join forces in ensuring that nothing is done to whittle away the, sweat, blood and toil of those who have made it possible for us to be where we are today”.

“Certainly, we have not reached our final destination as regards our march towards growth and development, but we have made some significant gains and cannot afford to destroy what we have toiled to build”, president Mills pointed out.

His Excellency President J.E.A. Mills also use the day to salute the nation’s First President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, Private Odartey-Lamptey, Nii Koblah Bonne, and all the gallant men and women who fought to make the dream of Ghana’s independence a reality.
“Indeed, the candle that was lit 55 years ago by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah continues to glow across the African Continent and worldwide; and it is not surprising that at the last gathering of the African Union in Addis Ababa in January this year, a magnificent statue of our first President was unveiled at the forecourt of the new edifice that houses the AU”.
“Edinkafo; ye ma mu mo!! Mo!!”, he stated.
According to President Mills, he is more than confident that, with the many blessings that God has bestowed on Ghana, and with the right leadership that continues to remain committed to building a Better Ghana, 55 years from now, Mother Ghana will be standing on a much higher pedestal that will broaden the smile on the faces of the Founding Fathers, wherever they may be.
He, however, use the occasion to express his condolences to the bereaved family of Goni Etornam, a 14-year old pupil of the Ho Fiave Seventh Day Adventist Junior High School, who passed away while joining her school mates rehearse for this year’s anniversary parade.
It would be recall that the NPP flagbearer, Nana Akufo-Addo, somewhere last year declared war on Ghana with his “all die be die” mantra, inciting his party supporters and Akans to go after other tribes, when meeting with some party Executives in the Eastern Region.

In that party’s craze to win power at all cost, its leading members on various political platforms on daily basis, have continued to preach violence as far as election 2012 is concerned.

The NPP’s National Youth Organizer, Mr. Anthony Karbo, energised by the “all die be die” mantra pronounced by his senior colleagues, has stated that Ghana will become ‘Afghanistan’ if NPP did not win this year’s nationwide poll; and it’s based on theses irresponsible statements from the NPP that necessitated His Excellency President John Evans Atta Mills’s continuous assurance to Ghanaians of peace before, during and after the election.