Apam (C/R), March 7, GNA - The Gomoa District Chief Executive, Ms. Joyce Aidoo has appealed to Ghanaians to appreciate the sacrifice made by the nation's forefathers in the struggle for independence and desist from divisive tendencies, which do not promote development.

"At the age of 49 years, we are of age to be able to discern good from bad" Ms. Aidoo stated, added that, "at this time we should not wait to be told that poor sanitation does not promote good health so we should observe environmental and personal cleanliness before we do so". The DCE was speaking at a reception she organised for a cross-section of people who participated in the 49th Independence Anniversary parade at Apam.

Thirty-five schools, voluntary organisations and civil society organisations took part in the parade at which the DCE read the President's Anniversary Address and took the salute together with Mrs Emma Baaba Quaicoo, the District Director of Education and Mr Asare Baffour, district police Commander.

Ms. Aidoo expressed concern about entrenched partisanship stand taken by Parliamentarians and said, "it is unhealthy for the nation's forward march".

The Ministry should appreciate the good programmes of the government and the Majority should listen to tangible suggestions from the minority", she said and added that " by so doing we can build a prosperous nation through a concerted effort". Mr. Joe Donkor, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) chairman for Gomoa West Constituency appealed to the youth to work hard to enable them to achieve their hearts' desire.

|"The nice things you want to make you happy in life can only be achieved through hard work," he noted.

The Bible says, "Seek ye the Kingdom of God first and all other things will be added unto it", and stated that it is only through hard work that they can achieve success. Mr. Donkor urged the youth to think about what they could do for the nation rather than always relying on what the government could do for them. He appealed to politicians to bury their differences and unite to build the nation.