President Jerry John Rawlings on Friday, said that patriotism is of great importance at this particular time of the country's history.

Addressing a graduation parade of eight officers of the Ghana Airforce and 90 national service cadets in Takoradi, he said the government that he will hand over to next month, will represent a nation "almost equally divided between two main political camps.

"If we allow partisan considerations to rule our actions, then progress and development will stagnate whilst each group scores points over each other" he added. President Rawlings said: "if we place the best interest of our nation first, in a patriotic effort to do the best for all our people, then we can work together for the common goal of peace and progress".

Rawlings thanked the security services for their vigilance during the first round of the elections, saying that without vigilance, the intimidation would have been worse. He said in line with efforts towards the realisation of the vision 2020 agenda, the Ghana Air force must be encouraged to team up with private entrepreneurs with requisite finance and skills to restore much needed communication link, between northern and southern sectors of the country.

"If development of the country is to be accelerated, all sectors must play a part and that the Ghana Air Force is fully prepared to contribute its quota." He said the Ghana Air Force has made giant strides in the area of human resource development and that available statistics indicate that well over 45 percent of all air force officers are graduates with holders of higher national diplomas.

This number significantly increases to about 70 percent if holders of civil professional qualifications are added, he said. Rawlings said an increasing proportion of other ranks are taking advantage of the Armed Forces policy of encouraging higher education among service personnel by obtaining degrees and diplomas from the country's institutions of higher learning.

He commended the recent collaborative efforts between the University of Cape Coast and the Ghana Airforce to produce graduates in business administration, using the Takoradi Air Force Station as a lecture centre.

Rawlings said by the year 2004, this effort should be able to produce, on a yearly basis, at least 15 graduates in business administration for the Air Force alone. This figure, he noted does not include personnel from other services who may wish to take advantage of the programme.

Rawlings presented wings to all the eight Air Force graduands of course 26 and awards to deserving graduating officers and National Service cadets who underwent six months basic military training. The sword of honour was awarded to Pilot Officer David Nkansah who also won the Speedbird trophy and Joe Bruce award. Pilot Officer F.A.Boadu won the Academic Honour and Pilot Officer K. T. Oppon took the Odaate Barnor Award.

The overall best National Service Cadet award went to Cadet Sergeant Emmanuel Nanoh while Cadet Corporal Afua Takyiwaah-Boateng, won the best in drill award and Cadet Corporal Rose Amoah, the best female trainee award.

Among the large number of people who attended the parade were Lt Colonel E.T. Donkoh ( RTD ), Minister of Defence, Lt.-General Joseph Henry Smith, Army Commander, Service Commanders and members of the diplomatic corps.