Ajumako (C/R), March 7, GNA - Ghanaians have been advised to live in peace, unity and love with one another towards a prosperous and Better Ghana.

Mr Peter Light Koomson, District Chief Executive (DCE) for Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam, gave the advice at a parade of school children, cadets, workers, and traditional rulers to mark the 54th Independence Anniversary at the University of Education campus at Winneba-Ajumako. Mr Koomson paid glowing tribute to the nation's founding fathers, adding that 93as future citizens and leaders we must build upon what the founding fathers bequeathed to us."

He said, 93Our forth fathers through their blood and toil fought to achieve independence from colonial rule, today our country is politically liberated and the people of Ghana have chosen the path of democracy and are well informed to resist oppression and to stand for a total freedom". The DCE called on Ghanaians to take inspiration from the cordial meeting that took place recently between Former President John Agyekum Kuffour and President John Evans Atta Mills at the Castle in Accra, and described the meeting as a new era of democracy in the country. He commended teachers in the District and throughout the entire countr= y for the noble role they were playing in moulding the character of the youth for the future, and gave the assurance that the government of President Mills would not forget their sacrifices.

On the theme of this year's anniversary celebration, "Discipline and hard work, essential pre-requisites for a Better Ghana," Mr Koomson charged Ghanaian workers to eschew laziness and lackadaisical behaviour in their everyday lives.

He called on the school children to be disciplined and said "just as you have turned out smartly on this parade, we want this to be translated into your academic work". The DCE was full of praise for the District Assembly staff for the yeoman's job done that enabled them to chalk a lot of achievements in 2010 to qualify for the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development's District Development Fund.

He outlined a number of development projects that had been provided as a result of this fund, and advised the in-coming Assembly members yet to be inaugurated on 15 March 2011, to follow the example of their predecessors. Mr Ato Forson, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the area, appealed to parents to endeavour to give their children proper education and up-bringin= g so that they can be useful citizens to their parents and the nation. "As parents, teachers, community leaders, we all have a role to play in moulding the character of the child," he said.

Mr Forson commended the school children for their smart turn-out, saying that they had demonstrated a true sense of patriotism. The MP said Ghana had now joined the league of middle income nations and that there was the need for more hard work towards development, since there was a lot more be achieved.

He called on fellow politicians to use decent language to promote peace for national unity and progress.

Present at the parade was the Omanhen of Ajumako Traditional Area, Okokodrufo Ogyeabo Nana Kwamena Hamma Ababio II.