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WASHINGTON — President Bush on Monday lavished the full White House treatment President John Agyekum Kufuor, his ally who holds a kinship with the U.S. president as their two-term tenures near a close.
Kufuor emerged on the South Lawn to find all the pageantry of a military honor guard and flag-waving spectators. At his side, Bush declared five times that Ghana and America "stand as one" on combating poverty, disease and illiteracy, and promoting free elections and trade.
"Your country is a model of entrepreneurship and democracy and peace on the continent of Africa," Bush told Kufuor at the sunny arrival ceremony.
Later, Bush and Kufuor praised their countries' partnership during a statement in the Rose Garden, part of a full day of activity surrounding Kufuor's visit.
Ghana is a kind of story that Bush likes to promote on the often volatile continent. It is a stable, relatively well administered democracy that has largely avoided ethnic clashes, played a busy peacekeeping role and reduced its still-persistent poverty.
The U.S. pumps hundreds of millions of dollars into Ghana to help fight disease, build roads, train teachers and expand markets for its crops.
Bush and Kufuor also share a friendly, personal bond. They came into office about the same time and will leave soon as well, as required by term limits in both their countries.
In a clear theme of the day, Kufuor drew attention to Bush's upcoming retirement and gave him a colorful sendoff during the South Lawn ceremony.
"Your tenure has been full of events and challenges, some very mind-boggling and hair-raising," Kufuor said to laughter. "Through them all, you have been strong, forthright, consistent and faithful. You are a survivor. And my hope is that history would prove kinder to you."
Kufuor's treatment at the White House is reciprocation for the welcome Bush and first lady Laura Bush received in Ghana in February.
Several thousand children in their school uniforms lined the streets of Accra and waved tiny Ghanaian flags as Bush's motorcade bounded through the city that day.
Kufuor also threw a lavish dinner for 500 for Bush during his visit, and announced that a highway there had been renamed the "George Bush Motorway."
Source: FOXNews
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PRESIDENT BUSH: Good morning. I'm pleased to be here with my friend, the President of Ghana, John Kufuor of Ghana. We just had a very good discussion and before I summarize it I do want to say a word about the U.S. economy.
I know Americans are concerned about the adjustments that are taking place in our financial markets. At the White House and throughout my administration, we're focused on them -- and we're working to reduce disruptions and minimize the impact of these financial market developments on the broader economy.
I've been in close touch with Secretary Paulson throughout this weekend and this morning. I appreciate the work the Treasury Department, and the Federal Reserve, and the Securities and Exchange Commission, and major financial institutions here and around the world are doing to promote stability in the financial systems.
As policymakers, we're focused on the health of the financial system as a whole. In the short run, adjustments in the financial markets can be painful -- both for the people concerned about their investments, and for the employees of the affected firms. In the long run, I'm confident that our capital markets are flexible and resilient, and can deal with these adjustments.
I admire President Kufuor, and the reason I do is because he has shown the world that democracy can flourish on the continent of Africa. He's been a steady and principled leader. We're soon to leave office, but I'm going to finish strong -- and I know you are, as well.
We had a good discussion about important issues, such as fighting disease. One of the initiatives that we're working on together is the fight against neglected tropical diseases. And the President brought me up to date on the strategy to deal with that important issue and how we can help.
We're talking about, obviously, fighting malaria. And the good news is, is that this is a government that's very capable of taking American help and converting it into the kind of results that we all expect.
We talked about education and economic opportunity. The United States supports vital educational partnerships in Ghana. We're training teachers. We've issued 6,000 scholarships to girls. Under the President's leadership the education system is improving and we're glad just to be a small part of that, Mr. President.
One of the most important initiatives of this administration has been the Millennium Challenge Account. It's an opportunity for the United States government to help countries that govern justly and invest in the health and education of their people and believe in market economies. Ghana is such a country. And as the President mentioned in the welcoming ceremony, we're soon to begin spending $547 million to renovate schools, increase agricultural productivity, expand infrastructure, and support rural development.
The conclusion of the Millennium Challenge Compact, Mr. President, is a testament to your leadership, and I'm very comfortable in telling the American people that this will be money well-spent.
The President has been very strong voice for peace. We talked about Darfur. I appreciate very much Ghana's 11 U.N. peacekeeping operations that are ongoing. He has been a good, steady voice for strong leadership and for conflict resolution -- witnessed by the fact that they were great on the U.N. Security Council, and thank you for your leadership there.
All in all, it's been a -- it's been a good partnership, it's been good partners amongst me and you, John, but it's been a good partner between our countries. And I firmly believe that beyond our time in office, whoever the next Presidents will be, they will find relations between our countries are in good shape, which I believe is vital.
And so I welcome you here. Laura and I are looking forward to having you to dinner tonight. I promise not to unleash the dance moves -- (laughter) -- that I first displayed in Ghana, in what was one of the most memorable trips of my presidency.
And so we're sure glad you're here. Welcome. (Applause.)
PRESIDENT KUFUOR: Thank you very much. Mr. President, I want to use this opportunity to express the deep appreciation of my nation and myself to you, as President of the United States, and to your great nation, for the supports we've benefitted in our relationship with you.
The two countries have been friendly since Ghana attained independence in 1957. But I believe, under our watch this relationship has been taken even higher --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, sir.
PRESIDENT KUFUOR: -- and has translated into many supports affecting all aspects of our national life in Ghana. A typical example is the Millennium Challenge Accounts by which Ghana received, or is receiving, $547 million to modernize and commercialize agriculture. You would appreciate the importance of this gesture from the United States when you know that about 60 percent of the Ghana population is rural and depends on agriculture.
So far much of our agriculture is subsistence, meaning farmers just scratch (inaudible) to feed themselves. But with the advent of the Millennium Challenge Accounts, we want to move the farmers on to more scientific and technological agriculture, and thereby empower them more and make agriculture worth pursuing for the youth.
We are suffering as an economy adrift, very serious drift of the youth from the rural parts to the urban areas, which have not been planned to accommodate the drifts. And so now in our streets in the big towns you have street children. We believe the success of the Millennium Challenge Account will help stem all this anti-social developments.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Right.
PRESIDENT KUFUOR: If you look at the malaria support from the United States, our country in the old times was dubbed the white man's grave. It was malaria infested and the Europeans who first came along our coasts just didn't last. This disease continues to plague much of Africa and perhaps is the biggest killer -- even bigger than HIV/AIDS -- of our people on the continent. The hefty support we are getting from the United States and under your watch is very welcome and we hope to take it even further, again employing technologies and more scientific research.
Similarly, under your watch you have increased the support for the fight against HIV/AIDS, which is devastating many countries on our continent. I believe you've increased the supports your country has been giving by over $20 billion. I believe that's humanitarian, and you have to be accorded the credit for this gesture.
In terms of trade, your country, I would say, holds the hope. We in Ghana trade in your currency, for instance. So with the current difficulties, naturally we also are affected. So we can only wish that your country rallies quickly to find solutions so that much of the world would be saved the trauma that we are going through.
If you take the current situation of rapidly increasing food prices and crude oil prices, which are subverting all the efforts we are trying to make to put our economies together, we believe the developed as well as the developing countries should feel that we are in the boat together and that we must learn to sail together, or perhaps we sink together.
Again, with the climatic change, here I have to express condolences and sympathy to the United States for what you are suffering down south in your country, especially in your state of Texas now.
PRESIDENT BUSH: My state, Texas, yes.
PRESIDENT KUFUOR: But you must know you are not alone here.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you.
PRESIDENT KUFUOR: On the continent of Africa, as elsewhere in Asia, we are victims of the changes of climate. But this, again, should show humanity that perhaps we all belong together more than we want to admit. If we are going to make a dent on the problems caused by the climatic change, we need to be able to marshal scientific and technological knowledge and resources in which your country, the United States, must play leadership.
So look to you to readily put abroad your resources, ethically and selflessly, so all of us will see how to contain the challenges of global climatic change, which again, should make us aware that perhaps we are already into the global village and which we should share common values and sense of humanity -- forget about the race; forget about the ideology; forget about the religion -- it's humanity that is at risk. And the United States definitely is in the forefront -- or must be in the vanguard of trying to find solutions to save mankind.
But at bottom, Ghana is very grateful for the friendship she is enjoying from the United States. And I, personally, am very happy and appreciate your friendship so far, and I look forward to a good and productive retirement, just as I wish for you, as you go into retirement. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you, sir. (Laughter.)
PRESIDENT KUFUOR: You have been good and I hope history will judge you well. Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Thank you. (Applause.)
Source: Ghanaweb
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 ... JAK receives red carpet reception at the White House
Washington, Sept. 15, GNA - US President George Bush on Monday honoured President John Agyekum Kufuor with a grand and picture-perfect ceremony at the South Lawn of the White House to welcome him for a four-day State Visit to the country.
On parade were contingents from the US Army, Marines, Air Force and the Navy and watched by hundreds of specially invited dignitaries and the general public.
Accompanied by the wife Theresa, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Mr Akwasi Osei-Adjei, the Information Minister, Mr Stephen Asamoah-Boateng, Professor Gyan Baffour, Deputy Finance Minister and other senior government officials, the visit was at the invitation of the US President.
It comes against the backdrop of the warm relations Ghana and the US have been enjoying over the past eight years. Again it is widely seen as an acknowledgement of Ghana's soaring image as a star performer in Africa in terms of open, democratic and good governance.
The ceremony to officially receive President Kufuor started at 0900 hours (East Time) with the arrival of President Bush and the wife, Laura.
Two minutes later President Kufuor and his wife drove in and when their car pulled up they were met by the host who shook hands with them and exchanged pleasantries with them.
The two Presidents then stepped onto a reviewing platform, drawing cheers from the crowd.
The Military Band played the anthems of Ghana and the US with a 21-gun salute booming at the background.
The two leaders inspected a Guard of Honour before proceeding to the Blue Room of the White House to sign the Guest Book. President Bush noted the strong ties of friendship between Ghana and the US and said the American people were honoured to receive President Kufuor and his delegation.
The two countries, he said, were bound by the love for liberty and "stand as one in our efforts to safeguard that freedom."
President Bush congratulated President Kufuor for his strong leadership, which has marked Ghana out as a model of entrepreneurship, democracy and peace on the continent of Africa.
Ghana, he said, was showing that democracy was not a challenge to be feared but sure path to prosperity.
Responding President Kufuor conveyed appreciation to the US for its development support for Ghana, mentioning AGOA under which the country could export 6,400 duty-free and quota-free commodities to the US market, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), African Education Initiative and the President's Malaria Initiative.
He said his hope was that the partnership between the two would continue to be further strengthened with more inflow of US private sector investment into Ghana's economy.
President Kufuor re-affirmed his government's commitment to supporting the conduct of a free and fair election in Ghana and said International observers were welcome. The two later went into bilateral talks at the Oval Office.
Source: Kwaku Osei Bonsu, GNA Special Correspondent, Washington DC
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Secretary Condoleezza Rice
Washington, DC September 15, 2008
SECRETARY RICE: Thank you very much. You may be seated.
Well, I’m absolutely delighted and honored to welcome all of you to the Department of State in order to honor and celebrate the great friendship of the people of Ghana and the people of the United States of America. And we do so with our great friend, the President of Ghana, John Kufuor, and the First Lady of Ghana, Mrs. Theresa Kufuor. The United States of America has no better friend than Ghana, and Ghana could have no better president than John Kufuor. (Applause.)
This morning, as President Bush and Mrs. Bush welcomed the Kufuors to the South Lawn of the White House, many words were said about the special nature of this relationship and about the special relationship between President Kufuor and President Bush. There’s much that I would like to say but little that I can add, particularly because I’m standing between you and lunch. (Laughter.) But I would just like to say a few words.
Obviously, this is a relationship that goes back to Ghana’s independence. It is a relationship that was born of the fact that the United States stood with Ghana. But also, it goes back much, much further than that. Because, of course, those of us who are descendants of slaves -- many can, of course, trace their ancestral home to Ghana. I don’t think I’ve ever been more moved than seeing the slave castle there and looking out from President Kufuor’s window to see along the coast where American slaves were undoubtedly taken into captivity, the sons and daughters of Africa stolen – literally stolen, but stolen to come here to America and to be one of the founding populations of America.
Indeed, America was founded by Europeans and Africans together. And in that founding, we forged a relationship; we forged a relationship of blood and tears. Now, we forge on that basis a relationship of hope and promise. And indeed, as President Bush has said, it was those stolen sons and daughters of Africa that perhaps helped the United States to reach the fulfillment of the great words that all men and women are created equal.
Now, as Americans return to Ghana, not just from that ancestral past, but to help a new generation of Ghanaians find a brighter future, I am very proud to have been a part of President Bush’s team, as we have worked through the Millennium Challenge, through the AIDS relief, through malaria relief, through girls’ education, and through the African Growth and Opportunity Act to perhaps help to make the future a little brighter for Ghanaians. But the truth of the matter – (applause) – the truth of the matter is that it could not have been done were it not for the will and the strength and the determinations of Ghanaians themselves. This is in every way a partnership. And Mr. President, Mrs. Kufuor, members of your delegation, we welcome you here as a sign of that partnership. We welcome you here because Ghana has made good choices about governance and democracy and fighting corruption and providing for its people. And the United States of America has been proud to be your partner and at your side. And as this Administration leaves office, I’m glad you noticed that that – you knew that that was not an applause line (laughter.) As we leave office, I think that there is nothing of which all of us are more proud than what we have been able to achieve with the peoples of Africa.
I just have to end by saying that our trip to Ghana was really spectacular. We saw the great development projects that were being carried out there. And many of the people who were carrying them out are in this room. We saw the wonderful Ghanaian people, including a great little t-ball match between Ghanaian kids. But we did something else – we danced. (Laughter.) And that, too, says something about Ghana, says something about the culture of its people, the hospitality of its people and, perhaps most importantly, the genuine joy of its people.
And so Mr. President, Mrs. Kufuor, I would like to raise a toast to you and to the people of Ghana, to our friendship of the past and our friendship of the future.
2008/724
Released on September 15, 2008
Department of State
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Name the US State where in 1991, citizen John A. Kufuor introduced himself and began to build a machinery to support the realization of his dream to be Ghana’s democratically elected President?
While you are thinking about that, name the US State where the Deputy Coordinator of NPP-North America who introduced NPP to the US and Canada and run for the Party’s Presidential Candidate in 2007 (hint- Boakye Agyarko) lived?
If you answered New Jersey to both questions, you are right and you will be heartened to learn that on Sunday August 24, 2008, New Jersey revitalized its Chapter of NPP-USA to offer the patriots of the Garden State closer links to NPP. “NPP in America started in New Jersey and we are happy and proud to reclaim our premier position” so said the Interim Chairman, Mr. Stephen Oduro who updated the audience on the current Ghana campaign activities.
Both veteran and new supporters of NPP showed up with enthusiasm to witness the re-birth of the New Jersey Chapter. The attendees affirmed their support for the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia ticket and promised to do their part to ensure presidential and parliamentary victories for NPP in the December 2008 elections. In an address read on behalf of the NPP-USA Chairman, Mr. Kofi A. Boateng, who himself “hails from New Jersey by way of Sawuah”, the members of the New Jersey Chapter were congratulated and thanked for their steadfast support of NPP activities and urged to continue their commitment by making their contributions to the “2 by 1” initiative.
The interim officers are: Stephen Oduro (Chairman), Mike Amoo-Adjei (Vice Chairman), Kwabena Appiah, (Treasurer), Okofo Ofori-Agyeman (Organizer), Godfred Ebo Arthur (Public Relations Officer) and Mimi Amy Payne (Organizing Secretary).
The next general meeting will be held on September 28, 2008 and venue will be communicated soon.
Mimi Amy-Payne - Organizing Secretary
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Dear all:
The arguments and snippets of information that our members, Drs. Agyenim Boateng (Kentucky) and Kwaku Asare ( Azar) (Florida) are sharing with us are very educational and demonstrate that there is a legal basis to force action for change on the question of Dual Citizenship limitations in Ghana’s laws. All of us who were in Dallas remember that our current Flag bearer, Nana Akufo-Addo , in answering a question about the Dual citizenship limitations said “ You must employ the same tactics of agitation that you used to get the limitation on the Ghana Diaspora’s right to vote changed”.
The deduction is that we can at least get a sympathetic ear in Akufo-Addo when he becomes President. But we should not wait until then. There is an incongruity in us raising sums of money to support the Party and Candidates in Ghana when we are essentially shut out of the same political system in Ghana. There have been times when we have fought within our own ranks right here in the USA because some do not see why we should even breathe any word that the decision not to implement ROPAA for 2008 is wrong. All those who went to contest parliamentary seats in Ghana will attest to the folly of our acquiescence to our own collective denial. As Akufo-Addo implied in Dallas in October 2007, we speak out for ourselves or no one will speak for us. We agitate for ourselves or no one will agitate for us. To demand the full restitution of your rights is not synonymous with wishing your Party to lose an election. The two must not be confused. What is the sense in supporting a Party if you do not vote and your own rights are proscribed? The atrocious treatment of our parliamentary hopefuls would have not happened if Ghanaians abroad were a voting block in 2008. If you do not vote, you do not count. That is it.
The time to act is now. We should be wise as serpents but we must act. Yes Agyenim Boateng, Benjamin Afrifa and I filed a suit in Ghana that was aimed at seeking the court’s interpretation on the dual citizenship laws. Unfortunately, the case was mishandled by the attorney in Ghana and he instead sensationalized it by couching it in an anti-ROPAA stance for his benefit. That caused the case to be dismissed. A few people contributed the funds for this case that also died for lack of adequate funds to sustain it.
I strongly suggest that now that we are all a little older, wiser and feeling the pinch, we should live up to the resolution that was passed at the NPP-USA Congress in October 2007 and boldly come out with an NPP-USA suit to seek interpretation and change in the dual citizenship laws. If we choose to send a delegation, NPP-USA must come up with the funds to pay for it. The days of watching someone else do it and then blaming them if they choose to fight for what is right are gone. We must fight together or be taken apart together as it is happening. Our issues will not even make the NPP Platform if we remain passive. No I am not suggesting that we go to fight with our Party. At this stage we shall clearly leave ROPAA alone for 2008 only but we can fight the laws that make us aliens in our own country. We should include the discriminatory and predatory customs that fleece people at the ports. Incidentally one of the objectives of NPP-USA Inc as a corporate entity is “to advocate for the rights of the Ghana Diaspora in the realization of their full rights as Ghanaians”. We have the foundation. Now let us build on it.
Let us raise the money to help NPP win in 2008 but let us at the same time raise even more money to fight for us and our children otherwise the Ghana Diaspora will become the Ghana Exodus.
We are working on a way to move these discussions to the FORUM on NPP-USA website. Bear with us for the moment.
Please see the contributions below from Prof. Kwaku Azar and Dr. Agyenim Boateng
Kofi A. Boateng
Chairman, NPP-USA
From: Kwaku Azar
Subject: Re: Is Dual Citizenship the same as Dual Allegiance? Updates from Nigeria
In a 2008, a Nigerian high court was presented the question of whether the EC, who also holds citizenship of Canada, was disqualified from holding public office. The case is Isa Odidi and Oris v. INEC.
Holding: The court held "the provisions of the Constitution are very clear and unambiguous; such that the interpretation of the relevant sections and the Constitution as a whole empower a dual Nigerian citizen by birth to hold any political position in the country without apology to anybody whatsoever. The court cited OGBEIDE v OSULA [2004] 12 NWLR PART 886 PAGE 86 at 138 where the Court of Appeal stated "under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria a Nigerian citizen by birth is free as the air to voluntarily acquire the citizenship of another country and he or she does not stand to be disqualified from holding any political position by virtue of his/her dual citizenship."
The Odidi high court concluded "The above case is in all fours with the present suit and by the doctrine of stare decises I am bound by the decision of the appellate Court. I adopt same as mine and hold that the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria recognizes dual citizenship and same cannot be a hurdle for Plaintiffs to contest election especially when they are Nigerians by birth. I so hold."
From Dr. Agyenim Boateng:
Azar is right on the issue on all fronts. Additionally, let me point it out that when the antagonists of the dual citizenship law rely on said article to disqualify Ghana Diaspora their effort is misplaced in the sense that when the 1992 constitution was drawn there was no provision for "dual citizenship". Therefore the phrase "person who owes allegiance other than Ghana " is not applicable to those with dual nationality. Thus the disqualification clause in Article 16 of the Dual Citizenship act 591 and the Article 94 (2) (a) of the constitution are patently inconsistent with the equal protection clause Article 17 of the constitution.
Finally, can some one please point out among the laundry list of disqualification from public service (Article 16 of Act 591) whether "Ministers or Deputy Ministers" are included?
Anuanom: It looks like "yemma won de yen sekan adwa nanka " or allowing them to carve out a puff adder with our knifes
From: Kwaku Azar [mailto:kwakuazar@hotmail.com]
Subject: Re: Is Dual Citizenship the same as Dual Allegiance? Updates from Nigeria
Nana:
The Ghana constitution is equally clear that no citizen by birth can be
disqualified from holding any public office. Those who desire to disqualify
citizens usually cite article 94 (2)(a) which reads "A person shall not be
qualified to be a member of Parliament if he owes allegiance to a country
other than Ghana."
But notice that this article does not even talk about a citizen, much less a
citizen by birth. It talks about "a person who owes allegiance to a country
other than Ghana." In the law, this is nowhere close to "a citizen who owes
allegiance to a country other than Ghana."
That is, as in the Nigeria case, this clause is distinguishing between
citizens via birth who can never be disqualified and citizens via
naturalization who can be disqualified for holding allegiance to other
countries.
Unfortunately, we read our constitution too carelessly.
I agree with Nana Agyenim Boateng that people should stop playing chicken by
renouncing their citizenships and join to fight
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Speech by Kwasi Agyeman Busia, Chairman, on June 14, 2008
Good Evening Fellow Ghanaians,
I cannot begin to tell you how very delighted I am to see you all here tonight and I cannot begin to express to you the joy that comes to my heart as I see you fellow citizens of Ghana, non citizens & surrogate Ghanaians, good friends & family gather in this ballroom tonight . Your presence here tonight is a demonstration of your commitment to see Ghana continue to rebuild and improve.
In the last couple of years I have had the exceptional privilege to be involved in an extraordinary movement-a political reawakening of Ghanaians living in and around Atlanta. Your presence here tonight underscores that interest and sense of patriotism that continues to remind us that no matter how successful we may be in North America and elsewhere-Our home, our real homes are in the towns & villages of Ghana and that our tour of duty in the United States with all its loves & joys, struggle and achievement, friendship & fellowship are perhaps only a conditioning for a transition back home to Ghana to help rebuild our own country. My name is Kwasi Agyeman Busia –Chairman of the Atlanta Chapter of the New Patriotic Party & on behalf of the members of the Atlanta chapter of NPP I welcome each and every one of you to this gathering tonight.
I would like to extend a special welcome to our guest of honor Dr. Arthur Kennedy, to welcome him back to his own backyard -Not too long ago I recall how you and I used to spend hours in my home and talk far into the night & figuratively speak of battles to be fought in the motherland, and now it appears Doc Kennedy has indeed transitioned to begin that noble fight where it really counts at ground zero- and is doing his part in the rebuilding of our dear country….Doc welcome back to the neighborhood! I also welcome Mrs. Kennedy-without whom nothing happens!
I would also like to welcome Mr. Kofi Boateng-NPP-USA’s National Chairman. A good man with an awesome responsibility- I think Mr. Boateng has a tough job. You know our people have opinions on everything- especially when it comes to politics---Imagine your job is to hear every opinion, galvanize thought and come up with an option that nobody would agree with in the final analysis …just because they have more to say on the subject over & above what you heard before… I must say, I have had the unqualified pleasure in working with Mr. Boateng in the last several months. We share a kindred spirit…Kofi on behalf of the Atlanta Chapter of the great NPP we welcome you to Atlanta GA.
I also welcome Hon. Obeng Busia-Ghana’s Consul General to the United States of America- a member of the team that founded the NPP Atlanta Chapter back in 1998/9. Undoubtedly he has very strong ties to the region and he is also my older brother. Please feel free to blame him for all my short comings. Mr. Busia welcome back to the cradle of the south.
I welcome our special guests-Nana Acheampong Asantefoohene, Nana Konadu-Asantefoohemaa, Ms. Josephine Danquah, Dr & Mrs. Cudjoe, & Ms Asabea Asare (member of the Akufo Addo for President campaign team in Accra) & Mr. & Mrs. George Ollennu.
Tonight we are gathered for 3 notable reasons
The first is to inaugurate the Atlanta chapter of that great & noble party NPP- The group would represent the NPP in Atlanta in this capacity and be deemed as a branch of NPP-USA, and as such promulgate the vision and aims of NPP in Atlanta and the USA. The party which has its basic tenets in liberal democracy, sovereignty of the individual, private enterprise & free markets-
Today Ghanaians can form or join associations without fear of harassment or arrest. There’s no fear of disappearing in the middle of the night because of something you had said during the day…
For the past seven years the NPP administration has worked tirelessly to curb inflation –currently about 12.8 % from about 50% when NPP took office. Interest rates have fallen from 47% to 24.2% and our GDP has more than quadrupled from $3.9 to $15 billion dollars. Not too long ago the World Bank rated the country as one of the most attractive emerging markets to do business.
The larger question becomes - have these encouraging numbers translated into social programs that the general populace can see & feel? That question in part is the question that need be answered to make a case for the renewal of NPP’s term in office. With righteous indignation against poverty, the introduction of pro-poor policies like the capitation grant, school feeding, and free bus rides for students, basic school enrollment has more than doubled. The National Health Insurance Scheme has helped to make health care affordable to all especially the more vulnerable ones in our society. The Kuffour administration has also scored high marks in the area of governance. There is a free & vibrant press and the culture of silence has been broken…the demystification of the presidency with the introduction of concepts such as the people’s assembly have been successful. The National Youth employment program has led to gainful employment of hundreds of thousands of youth. There have also been infrastructural improvements, road construction, and revival of the Bui Dam project, to name a few. Needless to say there’s a lot more work to be done in areas such as sanitation & waste management, clean water and so on…
This enviable score card is also a paradox- Within the opportunity it presents and the good foundation lies clearly the challenge for the next administration-hence the theme for tonight’s gathering-The opportunity & the challenge for what we hope to be an Akufo Addo’s administration for the next 4-8 years. The very position of being the incumbent is only half of the story, the experience, the understanding of the mood of the electorate and a pulse on threshold of pain of the general population constitutes the other half of the story. The courage to translate ideas into policy and execute in areas such as education, decentralization, controlling the menace of illegal drugs & corruption would require the collective skillet exemplified by the NPP and is needed to manage among other things the windfall of what I consider to be a divine intervention i.e.-the discovery of oil in commercial quantities within our borders. I submit to you that the NPP administration has demonstrated that it has the core competency, the experience, the leadership and now the record to manage the affairs of our country …
I have often wondered that at the birth of the new Nation Ghana in 1957, in all its grandeur, promise, leadership & example, where our founding fathers envisioned we would be in our growth after 51 years of existence-I’m sure we all may have different opinions about that, but I will tell you what my imagination tells me.
My imagination tells me that the founding fathers not only envisioned a nation where health care was universal and available but also a health scheme that was portable and usable no matter where one may fall sick in the country. I imagine that by now they had hoped we would have a national policy that would have a fundamental outlook that protecting health delivers better value than treating disease. A strategy that would commit to a regulatory and social commitment to a fundamental principle of health promotion, prevention of diseases, injuries and disabilities. I imagine that they would want health promotion & disease prevention to be the default choice.
My imagination tells me our founding fathers envisioned that by now no man or woman, or child should go to bed hungry at night; I believe they also envisioned that no Ghanaian should die needlessly from illnesses that are curable like malaria…
My imagination also tells me that our founding fathers did envision a country devoid of unnecessary death on our roadways and a country where all regions are linked by a super highway to promote commerce & education. I imagine they would want us by now to have access to clean water and an infrastructure for plumbing & proper sanitation all over the country. I also imagine we will have well lit streets with clearly marked lanes for motorists, with traffic lights that work most of the time & streets where neighborhoods exude vibrant & buoyant commerce, business & entertainment.
I imagine that parks and recreation centers abound, so are libraries with books & supermarkets filled with goods- Neighborhoods where roads are devoid of dust & waste by the roadside and people do not go to the hospital to get cured of diseases only to go back to the waste & bad sanitation that got them ill in the first place...Oh & by the way, I imagine that the founding fathers never envisioned corruption as a fossilized culture in the mainstream of life…!
The second reason for this gathering is to raise funds for NPP‘s parliamentary & presidential elections in December. The obvious question is why would we want to do a thing like that? These are tough economic times- with soaring oil prices and food shortages & abysmal decline of real estate value … Well the simple reasons are 2 fold - first, we want to realize the vision of the founding fathers and secondly the NPP administration’s score card of the `past 7 years makes them the party that is on the path to make that the vision of the founding fathers a reality. The challenge for an Akufo- Addo administration is to build on what has been started & optimize what has began so well & also have the courage to recognize and implement change where needed. It would be highly imprudent and even irresponsible to change horses in mid stream in this instance. There is without doubt a real sense of urgency here for continuation tempered with creative change …
In these hard economic times of high gas & food prices we hope you will continue to find ways to join and help us keep the campaign going to win the parliamentary & presidential elections in December –I believe this is perhaps the most important election of this generation- The very soul of our country may be at stake here –Our founding fathers are watching –watching to see if we would live up to the true meaning of their vision and our heritage…In that context of sacrificing in these hard economic times, I would like to recognize the men & women who have worked tirelessly to keep the vision alive in Atlanta and have put this event together tonight- They are-Peter Stevens, Sam Ado, Sam Nyarko, Nana Basra, Ike Kwarteng, Nana High, Nana Champing, Nana Konadu, Yaw Danso, Lawrence Boateng, Serwaa Boateng, Godwin Boateng, Richard Druyeh, Alhaji Alhassan, George Fosu, Austin Baffo, Tanko Yakubu, Kwasi Poku, Kofi Amoo, William Oduro, Robert Baffour, Isaac Boateng, Edward CudJoe, Charles Abrokwah Emmanuel Odame, Martin Odame, Paa Kwesi Coomson, Vicki Owusu, Mr. Owusu, Kwasi Jamal Boateng, Azuma Asumda, Richard Larbi, Yvonne Baffour, Kwabena Banahene, Emmanuel Asibe, Delores Maxwell, Mercy Adubofour & Henrietta Kisseih, -Will the chapter members –most of them are wearing name tags tonight - please stand up and would you pls help me give them a much deserved round of applause
The 3rd & final reason for meeting tonight is to have a political discourse and galvanize thought & generate ideas within our limited vision that could help in fashioning policies at home especially in the next administration and also find ways to help ourselves here in Atlanta–Central to this is the sense of community building and being each others keeper-to motivate ourselves to be the best we can be in whatever hand the school of life has dealt us in life’s journey –As we think of rebuilding at home we must also consider the reality of our life’s here in the United States of America. I know & you know that there are many here who many others depend on in Ghana both monetarily, emotionally & even spiritually…If you pay attention you would notice that by & large our dreams are the same. Our hopes and fears are not dissimilar- We want the best for our families and our children, safe environment, good schools & a health facility to take care of us if we fall sick. A good income with the hopes of a saving plan that we can fall on when the chips are down…That being the case let us lend a helping hand to each other here in Atlanta…You know about 2 weeks ago The chapter hosted a picnic for friends and families and for those who were able to attend, you would recall that across from our pavilion our children played on swings, monkey bars & slides and hopefully made new friends. Later that evening as I pondered about the events of that day and replayed the day’s events in mind’s eye, I saw our kids but I saw them as teachers, doctors, firemen, politicians, social workers, priests, counselors and so on…, the networking is already in motion for these 1st & 2nd generation Americans. Fathers & Mothers you do not need me to tell you this but I will nonetheless-Tomorrow night as you kiss these kids goodnight, let the hugs linger a little longer, embrace them a little tighter, because they are because we are & vice versa…
We also need to come together -with the endorsement of an Akufo-Addo administration- and find ways to assist those who are willing to transition to Ghana and help with the rebuilding efforts whiles managing their undue exposure & mitigating the risk of losing everything they have worked for here in the United States of America- For there’s strength in numbers and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts…Let us also set out to do a good job in what ever our life’s work is, let us do it so well, so well that the living, the dead and yet unborn cannot do it any better-
As Dr. King said “if it becomes your lot to sweep streets then be the best street sweeper that ever lived, sweep it as well as Michelangelo Carved marbles, Rafael painted picture or Beethoven composed music,” he goes on to say
…”Sweep so well that the host of heaven & earth must pause and say there lived a great street sweeper, be a bush if you cannot be a tree, be a star if you cannot be a sun, be a trail if you cannot be a highway because it is not by size that we win or loose–
With this sense of excellence we can continue to push & build a stronger interdependent community person to person & families to families. Above all else pls remember that the centrality of our mission on earth as a people is to love another--Because we need to understand that power and indeed political power without love could be reckless and abusive. More than anything else we have to learn to love more –when I speak of love I’m not speaking some sentimental & weak response, I’m speaking of that force that is seen as the supreme unifying principle of life –Love is somehow the key that unlocks the door which leads to ultimate reality. This Hindu, Moslem, Christian, Jewish, Buddhist belief about ultimate reality is summed up beautifully in the 1st epistle of St John-Let us love one another for Love is God & everyone that loveth is born of God- and knoweth God , he that loveth not knoweth not God for God is love, when we love one another God dwelleth in us his love is perfected in us…let us hope this spirit will become the order of the day…
As I move toward my conclusion –I would like to say this –
We need to understand the awesome responsibility & commission we have to safeguard the freedoms we have and to work harder to ensure a brighter tomorrow for our children and their children. If we do not do this, then the vision of our founding fathers would have been wrong, the sacrifice and good works of Drs. Nkrumah, Danquah & Busia would have been wrong….The good works of John Agyekum Kuffour in the last 7 years would have been wrong, the very soul of our country would be wrong and perhaps God Almighty would have been wrong!
But is he??
Again Thank you for being here tonight-Enjoy the rest of the evening!
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Members of the NPP-USA in Virginia and Washington D.C area took advantage of the fair weather on Saturday September 22nd to gather at Braddock Park in DC to enjoy a cook-out with family and friends. The informal gathering of Ghanaians of all walks of life saw dignitaries such as the Member of Parliament for Bumkpurugu-Yuayoo, Hon Labik who is an Independent. Ghana’s Ambassador to the U.S H.E. Dr. Bawuah-Adusei as present.
Also in attendance were Mrs. Bawuah-Adusei, Mr. Kofi A. Boateng, NPP-USA Chairman, Madam Abena Dapaah, Justice Kwame Ameyaw, Prince Osei Bonsu, and Isaac Fosu all members of the NPP-USA National Executive. The 1st Vice Chairman of the Washington chapter, Nana Nti Yeboah introduced his other colleagues on the Chapter’s Executive namely; Akosua Busia, Augustine Agbenaza, and Koby Asamoah.
In his speech, Ambassador Bawuah Adusei observed that Ghana has achieved tremendous economic and political success under the government of NPP and never in the history of Ghana has the nation been so well looked upon by the rest of the world. It is therefore in the interest of Ghana that NPP succeeds itself in the coming elections. He also praised members for working hard to strengthen the party in the US. The NPP-USA Chairman, Kofi A. Boateng was commended for building on the success of previous administrations and elevating the branch to a higher level. The Ambassador urged all to make every attempt to attend NPP-USA Congress in Dallas on October 20th.
While this was a gathering for merry-making, events in Ghana were not lost on members as they openly discussed and sympathized with the plight of flood victims in the three northern regions. It therefore came as no surprise when the Chairman of NPP-USA, Mr. Kofi A. Boateng urged members to support a move to make donations to the flood victims. The mood at the gathering was one of solidarity and determination to help move Ghana forward. Special prayers were said for the Chairman of the Washington Chapter, Mr. Kwasi Owusu who is convalescing.
NPP-USA Inc.
Submitted by Isaac Fosu
Assistant PRO
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