It is yet another year added to Ghana which got independence on 6th Match 1957 and its citizens have every right to celebrate a day that marks its 53rd birthday. It should not just be a normal day of celebration for independence, but a joyous one as Ghanaians begin to see very positive changes in their lives as individuals and as a nation recognizing the fact that under the President Mills administration, the economy is beginning to see a great improvement since the NDC’s take over from the New Patriotic Party in January 2009. In celebrating this memorable days let us acknowledge the fact that the NDC manifesto that was presented to Ghanaians during the 2008 general elections has produced great result in this short period in terms of food productivity, the stabilization and improvement in the economy. The NDC government lead by Prof. Atta Mills has also operated an all inclusive decision making process that has allowed has created a platform for Ghanaians to participated in the development of our country. Good governance is paralleled in all the steps of building our country from the policies, setting the foundation, making a solid frame, then finishing positively. Ghana is seen by other developed and developing countries as an example of a nation that has an extraordinary good governance system and the NDC administration in not only practicing this system but strengthening the good governance and democratic process. However, we need to understand that the approach to good governance is much like building a home. There are no quick ways to do it well; it takes lots of work, and the result will be commensurate with your efforts. Building our country further is so much more than having policies in the same way that a house is much more than a roof. In building this home, if you miss one part or build out of order, the results will be inefficient, unsafe and likely unusable.

Few weeks ago, H.E Professor John Evan Mills presented to the parliament and Ghanaians the States of Nations Address. The Minority in parliament, mostly the NPP criticized the address. The question we should ask ourselves is, did the minority listen carefully to the president’s address or they made unnecessary noise throughout the proceeding? It is evident that during his presentation in the house at parliament, the minority continuously distracted the president’s address by way of noise which does not auger well for our democracy. The minority might be thinking that but way of making this noise, Ghanaians will find faults in the NDC administration - This to modern democracy is a way of earning cheap political point – But on the other hand, the Ghanaian community cannot be deceived. The minority should also be made aware of the fact that, they need to be more serious in the parliamentary process for it is at the expense of the tax payer and hence rather than making unwanted noise during the deliberations in parliament, they should participate in active and meaningful debates that will strengthen our democracy.

Finally, as we continue to sympathize with our founder, Former President Rawlings and his family for their lost a few weeks ago and pray that all will be well with him, we wish to also congratulate Professor John Atta Mills for the constitution and inauguration of capable individuals of the NDC party to begin work on maintaining power in 2012. It is our hope that the constituted teams will work with all person of the party both at home and abroad for the 2012 victory.

Moses Kanduri NDC – NY/NJ Chapter