Kumasi, Dec 28, GNA - Dr Kwame Addo-Kufuor, Minister of Defence, has stated that the government has achieved a lot within the three years in office and that the country could be counted among the best on the continent in terms of development.

He said the fact that many African Statesmen came to Ghana to seek counselling from President John Agyekum Kufuor when they faced problems in their countries, demonstrated the kind of leadership and government the country has.

Dr Addo-Kufuor was speaking at the honouring ceremony of Dr Anthony Akoto-Osei, deputy Minister of Finance and Economic Planning by the CPC-Odumase Electoral Area Action Conference, a social club in Kumasi on Saturday.

He called on Ghanaians to be tolerant and support President Kufuor and the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to make the country worth living in.

The Minister noted that even though Dr Akoto-Osei had not been in office for long, he was playing a key role in the government and therefore deserved to be honoured.

Mr Sampson Kwaku Boafo, Ashanti Regional Minister, asked for continued support for the government and asked the people to refrain from negative attitudes that could create divisions among them.

Mr Kwadwo Mpiani, Chief of Staff, advised Dr Akoto-Osei to continue with his hard word that earned him the honour and not be swollen headed since the same people who were praising him could persecute him in future if made mistakes.

The Chief of Staff also asked the deputy minister to be tolerant to enable him over come the difficult task ahead of him. Mr Maxwell Kofi Jumah, the Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, advised the youth to refrain from drug abuse and work hard in order to become useful citizens.

Baffour Ameyaw Kotoko II, chief of Mowire, recounted aspects of Dr Akoto-Osei's life and urged the youth to respect elderly people and to listen to their wise counsel to enable them achieve laurels. He appealed to Dr Akoto-Osei to build a library for children in the area so that they could cultivate reading habit to broaden their knowledge.

Dr Akoto-Osei expressed his gratitude to the people for the honour done him and accepted to build the library for the community while Dr Addo-Kufuor promised to provide books and computers for the facility.