Taking Stock Of Another Year

Once again, the Good Lord has seen us through a successful year and is about to usher us into another blissful year.

Undoubtedly, an unexamined life is not worth living. As we prepare to receive the new year, it is prudent to take stock of our lives and see where we have fallen short and where we have made progress.

This exercise is worth the effort, since, by so doing, we can make amends where we have fallen short and improve on the areas where we have made some gains.

We successfully went through the December general election, notwithstanding the decision of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) not to accept the results. The initial skirmishes and protests which threatened the peace and stability of the nation have given way to the use of legal means to resolve any grievances.

At least we can beat our chest to the world that our democracy is growing.

Once our unity as a nation remains intact and there is peace in the land for us to conduct our normal businesses, we have every reason to thank God and say, “To him be the glory.”

Despite this feat by the country, 2012 will go down in our history as one replete with bad news. For the first time, a sitting president of the nation, in the person of Professor John Evans Atta Mills, and also a former Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, passed on to glory.

We can also recount the death of some of our legislators and many other loved relations.

But during these painful experiences Ghana came out successfully because the tension associated with our political divisions was absent owing to our resolve to remain united.

The story of 2012 will obviously find pride of place in the history of the Fourth Republic. It has been a year in which many good tidings have been received. The nation has registered growth in many sectors of the economy — the macro and microeconomic environment has remained relatively stable, many infrastructure projects have either been initiated or completed, crime has reduced considerably and there is a refreshing ambience of peace permeating the length and breadth of the country.

As we enter a new year, let us all resolve to contribute our quota to the development of our beloved country.

Every Ghanaian should bear in mind that in unity we stand, in spite of our diverse political and ethnic divisions. That the development of the country is our responsibility should be the dominant feature in our national psyche.

The Daily Graphic, therefore, calls on all and sundry to eschew any divisive tendencies and forge ahead in unity to better the lives of our people. All hands must be brought on deck and we must also turn over a new leaf and discard the old ways of doing things.

Much as we urge all Ghanaians to give the country their maximum and cooperate with the authorities to develop the country, we call on the government to fashion out policies to improve the standard of living of the people. We of the Daily Graphic hope that in 2013, Ghana will don its good cloth and push forward the better Ghana agenda being espoused by the government.

It is also our prayer that 2013 will not come with it the misfortunes that befell the nation in the outgoing year.

Let us all say, “Yes, with a change in attitude, hard work, goodwill and togetherness, we can make Ghana a better place to bequeath to the generation yet unborn.”

Source: Daily Graphic (Editorial)