General News of Thursday, 26 January 2006

Source: GNA

Government urged to honour heroes

Accra, Jan 26, GNA - Government was on Thursday reminded to honour the efforts and achievements of past heroes who had contributed immensely in the nation building process.

Recognition of such heroes would inspire society, especially the youth to be spurred to perform greater feats for the benefit of the country.

Mr Sam William Baddoo, Member of the Old Accra Conservation and Development Association said this in a solidarity message to commemorate the 118th birthday of the late Nii Kwabena Bonne III, Chief of Osu Alata, who led the boycott of foreign goods which paved the way to Ghana's Independence.

Nii Bonne brought a whole colonial government to its knees, and to compel it to do what was right to ameliorate the injustices, being meted out to the people of the then Gold Coast (now Ghana). He noted "the life and history of people who achieve great feat could serve as monuments of commercial value in today's world of tourism and we must protect and conserve them for cross cultural knowledge among Ghanaians".

Mr John Yaw Adjei Appiah, Deputy Director of Accra Metropolitan Assembly (AMA) said Africans must strive to preserve the past and hallowed memories of the great and passed it on to generations. "It is inexcusable to let the exploits of our great ones fade into the shadows of history, unsung and buried forever in the ashes of time", he stated.

He indicated that the youth ought to know, to draw inspiration from the exemplary leadership of the great heroes that they might be aroused to strive for greater height.

Nii Kwashie Aniefi IV, Dzaasetse of the Osu Alata Stool, urged people to fight injustices at all times to build a society devoid of violence.

He cited the late Martin Luther King Jnr, for sacrificing his life in the pursuit of peace for mankind and being acclaimed by all as one of the greatest human rights activists. 26 Jan. 06