GHANAIAN ENVOY IN NIGERIA MEETS PATRONS OF NAGHACON ADVISES ON DIASPORA VOTING LAW

The day was 18th March, 2006, a Saturday, when Ghanaian citizens that matter in Lagos exhibited true patriotism and unity. These are the Patrons of the National Association of Ghanaian Communities in Nigeria, abbreviated as NAGHACON, who have come together to form The Chamber of NAGHACON patrons ? an arm of NAGHACON but the Ghanaian Elites. There is no consideration of tribe among these honourable people, their appetite is only for nationalism and brotherliness.

It was the first major meeting of the Patrons and the Ghanaian High Commissioner in Nigeria, His Excellency, Gen. Joshua Hamidu (rtd) flew from Abuja to Lagos to attend the meeting which shows the importance he attaches to his people and how close he is to them.

The atmosphere was like a family meeting, to use His Excellency?s own phrase and it was just pleasant to behold. The High Commissioner, Gen. Joshua Hamidu advised members of NAGHACON to make the best use of the Diaspora Voting Bill recently passed into law by the Ghana Parliament.

Gen. Hamidu who made the plea in Lagos while addressing Patrons at their meeting held in the Ikoyi Office of the High Commikssion, stressed that the democratic atmosphere in Ghana which allows for freedom of speech, freedom of association and equal voting right is a unique development in the political history of Ghana.

Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Atiemo Gyan, a legal consultant, appealed to members of NAGHACON to assist the less privileged ones among them, adding that there is urgent need for well-meaning members to establish a Ghanaian Community School where their children could acquire education. Mr. Gyan further called on members of NAGHACON to embark on mass mobilization on the advantages and gains of the Diaspora Voting Act so that majority of Ghanaians resident in the country can be confident and sure of exercising their franchise in the coming elections in Ghana.

He pledged his continuous contribution to issues and activities that will enhance the growth of NAGHACON and that of the country, adding that the Association will not relent in its effort to protect the interest of members.

?I, therefore, call on members to conduct themselves peacefully and be law abiding in their respective abodes while they should also be conscious of the historic Diaspora Voting that is coming up? he said.

Mr. Gyan urged members who have not collected their National Identity Cards from the High Commission to do so as this will give them the opportunity to exercise their civic rights in the coming elections.