Hold Government In Check - Prez

Author: Daily Graphic - Daily Graphic President Mills has repeated his call on the Ghanaian electorate to constantly draw the government’s attention to its weaknesses and shortcomings. He said “nobody will be assaulted, mistreated or prosecuted for subjecting our policies and programmes to criticism, since it is your civic right to comment on issues that affect the administration of the country”. Addressing a durbar of chiefs and people of Sefwi Owenase in the Western Region, on the second day of his tour of the Western and Brong-Ahafo regions, President Mills said human beings were prone to make mistakes. Therefore, the masses, who elected the government into office, must always be permitted to express their opinions about the way the country was being governed. On his way to the Sefwi area, President Mills made periodic stops to address crowds that gathered to catch a glimpse of him. Places at which he addressed crowds included Beposo and Ayanfuri. According to Professor Mills, the government would always welcome constructive criticism in good faith to ensure that its policies and programmes impacted positively on the living conditions of the people. He said in order to sustain public confidence in government, his administration would always consider the views and opinions of Ghanaians in the formulation of national policies and programmes. Professor Mills repeated at the various stops that the government would always focus on issues which would unite the country and ensure its forward march. “We will not behave as political ostriches and remain oblivious of the real and genuine concerns of the broad masses of the people; we will do everything possible to ensure that the people’s interest is paramount,” he said. President Mills noted that the country needed peace now more than ever to consolidate its gains including the democratic process which began in 1992. He explained that the commitment to chart the path of democracy remained unshakeable, stressing, “Democracy has brought recognition and acceptance to Ghana among the comity of nations.” President Mills commented on the adverse economic plight of the country upon his assumption of office and assured the people that the government had taken the appropriate steps to reverse the decline of the economy in order to improve the quality of life of the people. He noted that the government was aware of the high expectation of the people and remarked that everything was being done to meet that expectation. Story : Kweku Tsen & Moses Dotsey Aklorbortu