Former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyemang- Rawlings, has criticized the leadership of the nation for their penchant for materialism and wealth.

She said the current state of greed, selfishness, corruption and the lack of patriotic attitude of those in office and that of the average Ghanaian, was a disincentive to nation building.

It is positive to dream of riches and a comfortable life – a house, car, holidays and all items of comfort. But do you have to abuse the system through bribery, corruption, under-hand dealings and white-collar theft?” the Former First Lady asked.

Addressing the Social Sciences Society of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), at an awards’ ceremony in Kumasi, Nana Agyemang-Rawlings entreated all and sundry to strive to demonstrate a high sense of patriotism in their endeavours.

“Our country is gradually excavating a path that will adversely affect future generations, because quality is now always sacrificed in favour of inferiority, and this canker is festering like a cancer across all sections of our society," she stated.

The ceremony, held under the theme “Forty-Three Years of Academic Excellence; The Social Sciences’ Perspective,” saw about 40 students from the Social Sciences Department being presented with plaques and certificates for academic excellence.

The Former First Lady lauded social scientists for their immeasurable role in the nation’s development process, and challenged them to aspire for excellence in their work to improve the lives of the people.

Nana Agyemang-Rawlings also tasked the students to be law-abiding, and concentrate on their academic pursuit to realize their dreams.

Mr. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, Deputy Minister of Education, in a speech read on his behalf, affirmed government’s commitment to improve the academic facilities in tertiary institutions for effective teaching and learning.