President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday appealed to Ghanaians to eschew pessimism and embrace positive thinking to accelerate the country’s development agenda.
He said: “We have become a nation of pessimists, we are bombarded everyday with statements as if nothing positive can happen…definitely this cannot be the truth of our country.”
President Mahama said this when he addressed Christians from all walks of life at the Holy Spirit Cathedral as part of this year’s National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service.
The service, which was on the theme:”Bind Us Together Oh Lord,” was also attended by Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur and wife, 2012 NPP Presidential Candidate Nana Addo Dankwa Akuffo-Addo and wife, Dr Abu Sakara, 2012 CPP Presidential Candidate, and Mr Prosper Douglas Bani, Chief of Staff.
Also in attendance were representatives of all churches in the country, politicians from all the recognised political parties, ministers of state and reverend ministers.
Chief Justice Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Mr Paul Afoko, Chairman of the New Patriotic Party and Nii Afotey Agbo, Greater Accra Regional Minister, read the Gospel for the service.
President Mahama said Ghana had achieved a lot since independence and there was the need to recognise the achievements for God to grant more mercies and gifts onto the country.
President Mahama quoted President Nelson Mandela of South Africa as saying: “It is impossible until it is done” to buttress his statement adding that the economic challenges the country was experiencing were temporary and would be surmounted in the nearest future.
He promised to play his role responsibly and called on all stakeholders to play theirs appropriately in the face of the economic challenges in order to serve Ghanaians better.
He said God would continue to bestow on His people the gifts of wisdom and knowledge but the progress or retardation of every country would depend on how the gifts were harnessed for the prosperity of the people.
President Mahama commended the Council of Churches and the National Peace Council for organising the programme that had brought together all stakeholders in the country’s development.
Most Reverend Gabriel Charles Palmer-Buckle, Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra, appealed to the Government to create an environment that would encourage political participation in the country, irrespective of whether they were in government or in opposition.
He said:” For exclusion and sitting on the fence by refusing to contribute towards nation building is un-Godly and I urge you all to participate and contribute your quota towards the development of this country.”
He urged President Mahama and his team to continue to seek “the voice of God” as He alone could grant governing mercies and directions to move the country forward.
Archbishop Palmer-Buckle, who described the evils of the society as human and self-inflicted, appealed to Ghanaians to denounce evil deeds such as teenage pregnancies, abortions, corruption, drug trafficking, contract killings, chieftaincy and land disputes and ritual murders which retarded the orderly progress of Ghana.
He appealed to the judiciary to remain impartial in their judgements so as to instill the sense of confidence and admiration in all Ghanaians and generations to come.
He condemned ethnic and political discrimination describing them as “the root of disharmony and polarization among Ghanaians” adding that in the eyes of God nobody was more Ghanaian than the other.
“Although Ghana is endowed with natural resources, we still face numerous challenges but I can assure you that in unity and peace we can make it work in the name of God,” Archbishop Palmer-Buckle said.
