Accra, March 6, GNA - President John Evans Atta Mills on Sunday addressed the 54th Independence Day Parade in Accra and stressed discipline and hard work as essential elements for the nation's accelerated progress and the personal development of the youth.

He said it was only through discipline and hard work that the youth would be able to take over from the present leaders and become the future leaders.

The President urged them to stay focused on their goals and take advantage of the opportunities that came their way. The youth, drawn from basic schools in Accra, put up a spectacular Independence Day parade and performances at the Independence Square. President Mills, who was obviously impressed at the parade, said the youth had renewed his faith in them for the future, and restated that Government had dedicated the Day to them.

The 54th independence anniversary is on the theme: 93Discipline and h= ard work - Essential Pre-requisites for a Better Ghana."

President Mills reminded the youth that they would be telling Ghana's story in the next 54 years and challenged them to commit themselves to telling a bigger and better story.

"Sons and daughters, Ghana will not be destroyed from the outside; t= his dear nation of ours will be destroyed if we decide to lose our sense of direction," President Mills said. He added: 93That is why it is extremely important that, as the youth of today, you must become the leaders of tomorrow with a sense of belonging an= d direction which will continue to keep the Ghanaian spirit alive. "The Founding Fathers blazed the trail; generations have kept the fla= me alight; those of us in leadership positions will endeavour to contribute ou= r quota to nation building; it will be the turn of your generation in the years ahead."

The President said Government would do its utmost to create opportunities that would allow the youth to develop their potential to the fullest. "We will provide more schools, free uniforms, free textbooks and endeavour to make Ghana a safe place for you to pursue your dreams. You wil= l have to play your part by positioning yourselves that the best part of our existence will not pass by you," President Mills said.

President Mills reminded the youth that he had declared the year 2011 as Action Year and asked them to inject a lot of action in their academic work.

On complaints of teachers about problems following their migration onto the Single Spine Salary Structure, President Mills once again stressed the government's appreciation for their contribution to national development. He said whatever problems had emerged as a result of the genuine attempt to migrate them onto the new pay structure were regrettable and every effort was being made to correct the slip.

Some public school teachers last week threatened to boycott the Independence Day parade to protest against serious anomalies in their new salaries.

President Mills called for unity and urged the nation not to allow verbal violence. He declared: 93I'm very confident that we will not fail; we will succeed, because God is on our side. "May the 6th of March continue to bring back good memories of what ou= r independence day means to us and spur us on to continue to roll out the vision and mission of the Founding Fathers.

"Congratulations to all of us and each and every Ghanaian home and abroad and happy 54th Independence Day celebration," President Mills said= .. Ghana, led by Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, a leading Pan Africanist, gained independence after 113 years under British colonial rule. The main celebration was marked in Accra with a parade which was reviewed by the President and attended by the Speaker of Parliament, former President Jerry John Rawlings and other top Government officials, Ministers of State, Members of the Council of State, Members of the Diplomatic Corps, traditional rulers and Service Commanders among other dignitaries. Similar parades were held in the nine other regional capitals.