Accra, Dec. 31, GNA - The high level of international appreciation should unite Ghanaians to share a common vision and confidently pursue the agenda of accelerated development, President John Agyekum Kufuor said in his nationwide New Year's address. "We should find a place in our hearts to engage in positive thoughts that recognize value in each one of us and which, encourage us to be each other's keeper", President Kufuor said in a radio and television broadcast. He said this was the surest way to strengthen national cohesion for sustained progress.

President Kufuor said Ghana has come to a stage that the world was acknowledging as promising for success and expressed optimism that the nation could not fail in its resolve to draw a firm line between its chequered and unhappy past and a future full of hope; achievement and fellow feeling. President Kufuor declared that 2007 was going to be a truly auspicious year for the nation, citing expected high-profile visits to the country by some key world personalities and the hosting of important international summits.

German President Horst Kohler; Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo; President Festus Mogae of Botswana; South African President Thebo Mbeki and Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf would be coming to Accra in January to attend a programme dubbed "Partnership with Africa Initiative", targeted at the youth. British Deputy Prime Minister, John Prescott is also expected in the country to jointly launch with UNESCO, a programme on the abolition of slavery. Besides, the Duke of Kent and many other Heads of State from Africa and beyond would participate in the country's Golden Jubilee celebrations.

President Kufuor reminded Ghanaians that the Jubilee celebrations offered a unique opportunity not only to demonstrate their unity as a nation, but, to highlight the many opportunities in the areas of commerce, business and tourism. He, therefore, appealed to the entire nation to display a high sense of responsible citizenship, dignity and commitment to the success of the celebrations. He announced that the Government would in the coming year pursue policies aimed at empowering the citizenry in general and especially the Private Sector. The Sector, he said, must, therefore, challenge itself to become an important player in the global economy and gave the assurance that the Government would give it every necessary support.

President Kufuor admonished the youth to use every opportunity to prepare themselves diligently so that they would not fail the nation and themselves when their turn came. He said they should seize the moment and become worthy citizens of the country, as the Government set things right to make the path easier and smoother for them. President Kufuor noted that the year 2006 was not without its challenges, citing sky-rocketing crude oil prices; industrial unrest; accidents; drug-trafficking; the energy crisis and violent crimes, but said serious as those challenges were, they failed to destabilize the economy and the State as some anticipated. He commended the law enforcement agencies for the appreciable and visible improvement in the performance of their duties, observing, however, that there was room for improvement, especially on the level of discipline within their ranks and asked the Leadership to weed out miscreants, who tarnished their image.