President says Constitution should guarantee uninterrupted democracy

Accra, March 6, GNA- President John Kufuor has asked Ghanaians to work
towards a united and harmonious nation in which respect for human
rights and other democratic practices would serve as basis for
national development.
He said the Constitution was to guide the actions of all people
to prevent excesses and guarantee sustained democratic governance.
President Kufuor was speaking at the Golden Jubilee Sitting of
Parliament, held around 2145 hours, on the eve of the 50th anniversary
celebration to re-enact events that took place there 50 years ago when
Ghana gained her freedom from Britain.
The sitting was a colourful event with Members of Parliament
turning out in rich kente cloth, smocks and other traditional
attires.The event attracted a large gathering of distinguished guests
including Vice President Aliu Mahama, the Duke of Kent who represented
Queen Elizabeth of Britain and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria.
President Kufuor told the House that the existence of a
Constitution made it easier for all concerned not to commit
excesses.He said: "Happily, we now have the Constitution of the 4th
Republic which places limitations on the powers of all organs of the
state.It makes it easier for all concerned not to commit excesses. So
let us by this constitution try as much as possible, to build mutual
trust to guarantee an uninterrupted democracy."
The President said the country's success in sustaining "this
finely written constitution with its checks and balances should be the
highest aspiration of each and every organ of the State, as well as
the entire citizenry of Ghana."
According to President Kufuor this was the only way to realise
the lofty ideals of "freedom and justice on which our nation was
founded at independence."
He said "Mutual trust, tolerance, happy co-existence, fellow
feeling among the religions, ethnic groups and various generations
should be articles of faith."
President Kufuor made some references to history and to the
presence of the Duke of Kent in Parliament and said: "Fifty years ago,
the Duke's mother, Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Kent, graciously
deputised for Her Majesty, the Queen at our independence."
He said the significance of the Duke's presence must be to
indicate the consistent friendship and goodwill that Her Majesty the
Queen has for Ghana.Madam Gertrude Mongella, Speaker of the
Pan-African Parliament, in a goodwill message, said Ghana had shown
the way to independence and also gone ahead to support other countries
in their quest for the same.
She called for increased cooperation among African countries,
saying it was a united front that was needed to deal with the myriads
of socio-economic problems.
President Obasanjo, who addressed Parliament on behalf of other
Heads of state, said the commemoration of Ghana's Golden Jubilee was
an opportunity to remind all about the gallantry and sacrifice of the
founding fathers who fought for freedom. He said it was time to
rekindle the spirit of these champions who liberated Africa by making
a commitment to peace, economic growth and democratic development.The
Duke of Kent touched on the friendship between Britain and Ghana and
said the celebration of 50 years of freedom also marked the
celebration of 50 years of friendship between the two countries.
He said Ghana had gathered strength to overcome her reverses and
moved towards domestic stability, freedom and good governance.Earlier,
Mr Ebenezer Sekyi Hugues, Speaker of Ghana's Parliament, paid tribute
to the memory of past speakers of Ghana's Parliament, saying they had
all contributed to the strengthening of parliamentary democracy.
He talked on unfortunate events that had interrupted the growth
of the legislature and said Ghanaians had yearned for genuine
democratic governance. Mr Hugues said it was needful for all to be
reminded of the central role that parliament played in enhancing
democracy along with its oversight functions in governance.
6 March 07