President Mahama calls on political actors help reshape the political discourse

President John Dramani Mahama on Wednesday appealed to all political actors to use the death of President John Evans Atta Mills to effectively reshape Ghanaian politics and alter its tone forever. "I believe there is space in the political arena to compete for political leadership in an atmosphere of decency and dignity, it is said politics is a dirty game, I daresay, it is us politicians who make it so," he added.  President Mahama made the appeal in a 15-minute maiden broadcast to the nation after his assumption to the highest position of the land on July 24, due to the death of President Mills. In addition to thanking all Ghanaians for their tremendous contributions before, during and after the burial of the late President Mills, he used the occasion to call for national unity that would propel national growth and development. President Mahama called on all politicians to tap all the rich and diverse talent and resources available to spur accelerated development and growth adding "although, together we have made great strides as a country over the past two decades, I am very much aware that, there are places within this country, where our people lack access to productive economic, health and social infrastructure".  He gave the assurance that his administration would continue with all the good projects that the late President had initiated adding that "the best tribute we can pay the memory of our departed President will be to continue to keep the flame of peace burning". President Mahama urged all Ghanaians to take ownership of the country by limiting the voices of pessimism that had the tendency of undermining national development and unity.  "Our growing democracy deserves more from us than that. And my fellow citizens, our country, whose independence and stability has been hard-earned, deserves more from us and from its politics than that," President Mahama added. President Mahama said the sterling performance of democratic institutions such as the Judiciary, the Legislature, security services and the media were strong signals that the country had the potential to rule the continent as the beacon and hope of Africa He commended all Ghanaians for the participation in the late President's funeral and congratulated Muslims for their month-long fasting and wished them 'Barka da sallah in advance".

 

GNA