His Excellency Mr. John Agyekum Kufuor, President of the Republic of Ghana has stressed in London that it was the national duty of all Ghanaians to protect the good image of Ghana.

He noted that some Ghanaians were trying hard to undermine the nation?s progress by fouling the country?s image on the internet and cautioned that the good people of Ghana would hold such persons to account at the appropriate time.

The President asserted that those who make allegations of corruption and impropriety against others had a constitutional obligation to prove such allegations and stressed that it was not government?s business to investigate such claims.

The President made the assertion while interacting with officers of the Ghana High Commission in London during a brief transit on his way home from the UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

President Kufuor announced that Ghana was gradually re-awakening as a force diplomatically, socially and economically and urged all Ghanaians to rally solidly behind the government to see through its programmes.

The President noted that a lot of the negative comments designed to tarnish the country?s image emanate from London because it was the nerve centre of Ghana?s international relations and enjoined officers of the Mission to be alert and to look out for such unpatriotic individuals to safeguard the national interest? said the President.

?We have a sacred and national duty to challenge and expose those who seek to undermine our hard won reputation and political system unduly for their own parochial ends? added the President.

His Excellency the President also reacted to some concerns posed by officers of the Mission on topical issues in Ghana. Issues raised by the Staff centred on the recent upsurge in armed robbery and road accidents, the foul language used during phone-in programmes on FM Radio Stations, prohibitive duties on new vehicles imported into the country, the status of decongestion exercise as well as calls on Government by public servants to revert to the CAP 30 Pension Scheme.

On the pension scheme for public sector workers, the President revealed that government was currently studying proposals submitted by the Bediako Committee to enable it unveil a new pension scheme which would meet the aspirations of all workers.

Commenting on the decongestion exercise, President Kufuor gave the assurance that the exercise would be implemented in a humane manner and revealed that the construction of a new market for the hawkers had commenced near the Kwame Nkrumah Circle. He further revealed that a 25-Member Planning Committee had also been established to evolve a long term plan for the development of the Accra metropolis.

President Kufuor commended officials of the Mission for the positive contribution they were making towards the accelerated development of the country and encouraged them to work even harder to lift high the flag of Ghana.

He pointed out that the London Mission was a key outpost of the country and charged officers of the Mission to ensure that the Mission?s facilities were well-maintained

Mr. Adolphus Arthur, the Deputy High Commissioner of the Mission thanked the President for interacting with the officers and assured him that they would continue to give off their best for the development of the country.