Diaspora News of Wednesday, 12 March 2008

Source: Samuel Dowuona, GNA Special Correspondent, London

Nana Akufo-Addo in London

Entrust State power in hands of competent people -Akufo-Addo



London, March 11, GNA - Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, New Patriotic Party (NPP) Flag Bearer, has asked Ghanaians to entrust State power to capable people with requisite competences; believed in democratic governance; accountability; rule of law and a free society. He said that Ghanaians must be ready to travel along the road in democratic accountability and support the Electoral Commission (EC) to ensure a credible election, whose outcome would be unquestionable. Nana Akufu-Addo was speaking at a special event to premiere a documentary: "The Prof; A Man Remembered: The Life, Vision, and Legacy of Dr K.A. Busia" at the House of Commons in London on Monday. Nana Akufu-Addo said as Ghanaians prepared for the December poll he could sense a great determination of a people working to ensure that the elections were held in a free and fair manner, notwithstanding the war mongering by some political parties.

He stressed the need to consolidate and entrench democratic governance and rule of law, modernise the entire Ghanaian society and work toward realising the dream of African Unity. He said the time had come for Ghana to transform the basis of her economy so that she could compete successfully in the globalised economy.

Nana Akufu-Addo said what was happening in Ghana today under NPP Government was a fitting tribute to Prof. Busia, who throughout his life stood for the idea of an open society full of opportunities. The daughters of Dr Busia; Akosua, a prolific Writer and Filmmaker, and Abena, an international poet; an Oxford Scholar and a Lecturer, put the two-hour documentary together.

Nana Akufo-Addo promises to promote democracy if elected president



London, March 12, GNA- Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2008 Election, said if given the nod to be president of Ghana in January 2009, he would continue to promote democracy in Ghana.

He said he would sustain the aspects of democracy that ensured that the masses enjoyed the freedom won for them through the struggles of the fathers of the country.

Nana Akufo-Addo was speaking to the GNA in London at the premiere of a documentary on the life of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia. The presidential candidate said Prof. Busia in his life time, sought for freedom from external powers and internal tyranny in Ghana. The NPP flag bearer said it was not far fetched that the premiere of his life documentary took place in the hub of the external power.

Nana Akufo-Addo noted that the first showing of the Busia documentary in the British House of Commons was significant for two contradictory reasons.

He said the House of Commons represented the hub of liberty for the British and also the source of bondage for the British colonies. The premiere of the two-hour documentary titled "The Prof- a man remembered" took place at the British House of Commons, under the auspices of Madam Diane Abbott, the first black woman member of the British Parliament.

It was written, produced and directed by Akosua Busia and Dr. Abena Busia, both daughters of Prof. Busia and sponsored by the Busia Foundation.

The premiere was attended by contemporaries of Prof. Busia as well as his sibling and that of his deceased colleagues.

London, March. 12, GNA- Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) for the 2008 elections, has underscored the importance of the Ghana News Agency (GNA) and the need to resource it to play its role effectively.

Speaking to the GNA in London at the premiere of a documentary on the life of Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia, former Prime Minister of Ghana, Nana Addo noted that those, who established the GNA, had the vision of an agency that would "counter the negative international press about Ghana and tell the good story of the country to the world in a vigorous and consistent manner".

"I believe that GNA is very important because it is not enough for politicians to tell Ghana's story - it would have to take institutions like the GNA to tell our story more professionally and for that, I think the agency need to be well resourced to play that role more effectively," he said.

He observed that since the inception of GNA, it had done well in telling the positive story of Ghana, even in the face of resource constraints.

"One of the things on my heart is to see a well resourced Ghana News Agency playing its role as the mouthpiece of the state and bringing captivating stories of our progress as a people from all corners of the country," he said.

He said a well resourced GNA would do the "country a great deal of good with regards to putting out such information about Ghana that would attract investment and goodwill from around the world".

The premiere of the two-hour documentary titled "The Prof - a man remembered" took place at the British House of Commons, under the auspices of Madam Diane Abbott, the first black woman member of the British Parliament.

It was written, produced and directed by Akosua Busia and Dr. Abena Busia, both daughters of Prof. Busia and sponsored by the Busia Foundation.

Nana Addo said when given the nod to be president of Ghana in January 2009, he would continue to promote the aspects of democracy that ensures that the masses enjoyed the freedoms won for them through the struggles of the fathers of the country.

Nana Addo noted that the first showing of the Busia documentary in the British House of Commons was significant for two contradictory reasons - that the House of Commons represented the hub of liberty for the British and also the source of bondage for the British colonies. He said Prof. Busia in his life time, sought for freedom from external powers and internal tyranny in Ghana at the time, and so it was not far fetched that the premiere of his life documentary took place in the hub of the external power "he sought our freedom from". The premiere was attended by contemporaries of Prof. Busia as well as his sibling and that of his deceased colleagues.