Samuel Agbewode
2 November 2009
Accra — Former President Jerry John Rawlings has cautioned the Ministers, Metropolitan and District Chief Executives serving the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government not to abuse the power that has been entrusted in their care. He also warned them not to indulge in corrupt practices to undermine the confidence the people of Ghan have in the Atta Mills' government.
Former President Rawlings, who was addressing a well attended 42nd Godigbe Festival of the chiefs and people of the Aflao, reminded government officials to see themselves as servants and should avoid lording their positions over the people.
According to him, if the NDC government lives up to public expectation, the party could win the 2012, 2016 and 2020 general elections, noting that the political power being enjoyed by government officials rather belong to the people and it can slip through their hands if those who are supposed to serve the people rather become Lords over them.
Former President Rawlings asked the chiefs and DCES to coordinate their activities to ensure that the decentralization process worked more effectively, because local governance, particularly at the grassroots was the the kinpin for the development of every nation. "NDC does not belong to me, to President Mills, or the Ministers of state and DCEs, but to the people who voted us into power", the ex President stated.
Mr. Rawlings was welcomed to the Victory Park durbar grounds like a king accused the Kufuor government of deepening the poverty level of the people.
He stressed that Ghanaians should at all times remember the June 4th and the 31st December events, because it was through the two historical events that the country was salvaged from severe sufferings. Mr. Rawlings, who silently observed the inability of the people to contribute immensely during the fund raising time, said "most of you are not able to contribute because the poor governance of the NPP reflected in your pockets", he teased the audience.
He advised the youth to uphold and cherish the rich cultural practices of the country since it formed an integral part of the country's development, and asked them to desist from the adoption of foreign culture, which he noted would not have any positive effect on their lives.
The Member of Parliament for Ketu-South, Mr. Albert Kosi Zigah, a native of Aflao -Teshie, asked the people to exercise patience for the NDC government because it inherited a bad economy from the NPP government, and that efforts were underway to repair the economy and make life a little more comfortable for the people.
He observed that the Aflao border was the gateway to Ghana from the eastern corridor, which generates enough revenue for national development, but Aflao has not seen much development over the years, and assured that the government would work hard to bring development to the area.
Mr. Zigah disclosed that so far, he had provided electricity through his share of the Common Fund to twenty-three out of the thirty-three targeted communities in the area. He is also sponsoring one hundred and fifty brilliant but needy children in schools in the area, through the same Fund. The Ketu-South MP said he would soon establish an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) center at Aflao to ensure that school children and members of the community would have access to information and be abreast with the development of the world.
The Paramount Chief of the Aflao traditional Area, Torgbui Amenya Fiti VI said this year's festival, themed 'Honour in sacrifice' was dedicated to show appreciation to citizens of Aflao who distinguished themselves in development activities, as well as people who served the country with dedication.
Torgbui Amenya Fiti said the traditional council deemed it fit to honour such personalities as a way of urging them to work harder than before, noting that a nation that does not honour her heroes was not worth dying for.
The Aflao traditional Council honoured Former President Rawlings, who was accompanied by his wife, as chief of Aflao under the stool name 'Torgbui Avaklasu I'.
Other people who were also honoured included Col. (rtd) Agbenaza, Mr. Fifi Fiavi Franklin Kwetey, Deputy Minister of Finance, Mr. Ralph Kosi Avornyo, Volta Regional Director of the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Prof. Ernest Dumor, Mr. Komla Dumor, Madam Mawuena Dumor, Corporate Executive of MTN and Col. (rtd) Cyril Neku, Deputy Volta Regional Minister, among others.
There was a display of the rich culture of the Ewes, as chiefs and people who formed part of the Aflao traditional area from Togo and Benin were also in attendance, with the display of various cultural performances to the admiration of the audience.
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