PNC On 59th Independence Celebration And Matters Arising
The PNC has observed with disquiet, the embarrassment that was occasioned to the name and image of Ghana internationally during the celebration of our fifty-ninth anniversary as a country.
The shame all Ghanaians have been besmeared with, could have been avoided if people had applied themselves competently to the execution of their duties. We note that, the drama of embarrassment had different episodes ranging from a terribly flawed program brochure, to a lugubrious breakdown in protocol.
Many opinions have been expressed on this matter including those, which insinuate a possible sabotage. However this tragedy is viewed, the bottom-line is that, some government officials slumbered on their oversight responsibility. And that must not go unanswered.
The publication of the brochure fell within the control of the Ministry of Communication and therefore, the Minister in charge must be held liable for the inexcusable errors in its content and the attendant disgrace. To deter others from sleeping on their jobs and to roll back the confidence of Ghanaians in the fact that, governance is still regarded by the President as a serious business, the Minister of Communication must be relieved of his office.
We also want to state that, the protocol gaffe on the day has even more far-reaching diplomatic implications. This cannot be accepted and should not be allowed. The Minister of Foreign Affairs clearly, was not also on top of her job. Protocol arrangements on the day, were exclusively the responsibility of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs working through the State Protocol. To have allowed our special guests namely; Presidents of Kenya and Guinea-Bissau stranded after the ceremony, is a loud demonstration of failure by our Minister of Foreign Affairs in her oversight roles. Culpability for the “mistreatment” of the Presidents entirely rests on her head. And to that end, she does not deserve to occupy that high office of Foreign Minister any longer and must be fired by His Excellency the President.
We wish to use this opportunity to thank His Excellency former President Jerry Rawlings for saving the day. He’s indeed shown that Ghana is blessed to have two of our former Presidents around. We pray that they live longer, so that we can continue to drink from their cisterns of wisdom and patriotism.
Meanwhile, we also recommend that, the National Security and Bureau of National Investigations (BNI) outfits, must without hesitation, move into full action in order to establish the truth about this national disaster and to place culpability where it duly lies. We particularly emphasize that, these investigations must aid to produce information about how much was incurred in the production of the said anniversary brochures.
<<Print>>