New Year 2010 Statement By Dr. Papa Kwesi Nduom

Ghanaians must all be thankful that the Good Lord has seen us through another year as we continue our journey towards “A Better Ghana”. In the year 2009, we celebrated 100 years of the birth of the founding father of our nation, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah. In 2007 we celebrated 50 years as an independent nation. Even in all these celebrations, we experienced dissent, disagreement and some degree of desperation in the land. But we remain one nation and one people with a common destiny. We thank God for these blessings.

As demonstrated recently, Ghana needs to build consensus on a long-term national development agenda that sits on the foundation of the Directive Principles of State Policy that is enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. We should all resolve to build a great country together. We must all work to unite our people. We should all pledge to do everything we can do in our individual corners to bring inclusiveness into Ghanaian society so that the best people can serve the country in all areas of society. What most Ghanaians need is opportunity to be the best that they can be. We all need to promote an open, transparent nation that will attack corruption and indiscipline with a sense of urgency so that we can build a just and caring society that is prosperous.

I wish for everything good and wonderful for every Ghanaian everywhere. I wish that President Mills will be as he himself has wished for himself, a “... father for all”. We should all remember that there is only one Ghana and whatever happens, good or bad affects all of us without regard to party affiliation or ethnic origin.

In 2010, God willing, oil and gas will flow in our land. May the Lord grant us all the wisdom to do with this natural gift something that will glorify His name and make the people He put on this soil called Ghana more prosperous.

May the Lord Himself keep all of us together as one people in good health and help us to work well together to achieve happiness.

Papa Kwesi Nduom December 23, 2009