My fellow citizens; My brothers and sisters.
Good evening. History defines us. It determines who we are-? as
individuals,as families and communities,and as a nation.
Whenever I watch images of our past,it is clear to me that it is
our shared history that has guided us through our most critical
periods. It has defined, and continues to define our mission as a
nation.
In our 56 years of independence, throughout the times of
celebration and the times of sorrow; throughout the times of
frustration and the times of joy,the heart and soul of our mission
as a nation has remained steadfast: to create a free and just
society for our citizens, to create a Ghana that we can be proud to
hand down to our children and grandchildren and all future
generations.
Ghana exists today not by accident but by providence.
We exist today because of the vision, hard work and sheer
determination of our foremothers and forefathers. They built the
institutions of our government and designed our very democracy with
our nation’s future in mind.
This country, our country, has always been fuelled by
patriotism.
It is a patriotism that is visible all around us: as we rally
together at football matches, as we join hands at the funerals of
loved ones, as we support each other—even strangers—in times of
emergency and disaster.
It is a patriotism that is also expressed in our everyday lives: in
the respect we show for one another’s differences of opinion and
religious beliefs, in the tolerance we display for the different
political persuasions, ethnic and cultural traditions. Indeed,
Ghana is known the world over for the richness of our diversity and
our harmonious embrace of it.
We have always held fast to the fact that we are, first and
foremost, Ghanaians— with an abiding love of country.
We have always held firm to our conviction that Ghana will work,
that Ghana must work.
My fellow citizens; My brothers and sisters, History has shown that
Ghanaians have always possessed a distinct political maturity, one
that has promoted stability in our own country, and has inspired it
in other countries on this continent and, even, throughout the
developing world.
“We are going to demonstrate to the world, to other nations,” Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah, our founding father and member of the Big Six,
declared at the dawn of our independence, “that we are prepared to
lay our own foundation. Our own African identity.”
Since our rejection of colonial rule, Ghana has endeavoured to
shape a system of governance that would be suitable for
self-?rule, a system of governance that would reflect our
particular history, our particular African cultural inheritance,
and our particular union of African peoples.
Today is an important moment in the life of our nation. Over the
course of the past eight months, we have witnessed the evolution of
the democratic process this nation utilizes to fulfil our mission
of creating a free and just society.
Dr. J.B. Danquah, another member of the Big Six, once said,“The
freedom to express an opinion, and to act in terms of that opinion,
is not an abuse of power in a democracy. […]Free exercise of
opinion on a political issue is the maximum expression of liberty
and is never an abuse of power.”
The political maturity with which we have received the verdict
announced today by the Supreme Court coupled with our
ever-?present patriotism will ensure that Ghana is the ultimate
winner, not any one individual or political party.
Victory must always speak to the success of our nation. Victory
must always be for the people of Ghana.
The challenge that was issued to the Supreme Court, and the
discussions, debates and even disagreements that it has inspired
can only strengthen our institutions. In a democracy, fair,
compassionate and decisive leadership must operate within a
framework that is fully functional. Strong institutions are the
bedrock of strong nations.
We must allow this exercise, this experience, to move us
forward.
If we allow it to do otherwise; if we allow it to be destructive,
rather than constructive, then we would have failed as a nation to
learn the lessons that were imparted; we would have turned our
backs on this rare and critical opportunity for our nation and its
institutions to evolve; we would have allowed ourselves to become
enemies of our own progress.
My fellow citizens; My brothers and sisters,
Since becoming the first sub-?Saharan nation to gain its
independence, Ghana has earned praise and respect in the
international community for its leadership on the African
continent. We once again find ourselves in a position to set a
standard for the rest of Africa, to lead by practicing and
perfecting.
For the first time on our continent, there are more democracies
than dictatorships, more free and fair elections than coup d’etats.
We must support our African brothers and sisters who have yet to
enjoy the due process we have seen today, and the freedoms we
cherish here in Ghana. We must pursue a day when democratic
governance and independent judiciaries are the norm all across
Africa,not the exception.
It is with the utmost respect and highest regard that I commend the
Supreme Court of Ghana, on my own behalf and on the behalf of all
Ghanaians, for the dedication, integrity and professionalism with
which they adjudicated this case.
We have all been captivated by the proceedings, and it is with awe
that we have watched the advancement of the jurisprudence of the
Supreme Court of Ghana. We have also, in the process, managed to
turn ourselves into a nation of pocket lawyers and armchair judges,
and, in typical Ghanaian fashion, let the language of law enter our
daily vocabulary.
It is not uncommon now to hear teachers, professors, and senior
citizens referred to as “my lord, my lord;” for taxi drivers,
contractors and seamstresses to discuss “pink sheets”; for farmers,
doctors, and market women to make mention of “further and better
particulars.” Even children are now familiar with the term “amicus
curiae.”
This is yet another example of the interest we Ghanaians take in
issues of importance to the betterment of our nation, of how deeply
we are willing to invest in our self-?education on these
matters.
Ghana is our home.
We cannot afford to be cynical. We do not have the luxury of
sitting on the sidelines. We must all work to make Ghana
work.
I know that in the last eight months, we have had several hurdles
to overcome— issues of Governance, Labour, Energy, Economy and
Education.
I know, too, that because the world does not stand still when a
goal is met or a mandate is delivered, over the coming years, from
time to time, we will continue to face our fair share of
challenges. There are various reforms that must take place, and
bold decisions that must be made. I assure you that I am prepared
and committed to make those decisions and to ensure that those
reforms are implemented.
I would like to thank my legal team for the hard work and long
hours that went into this case. I would especially like to thank
them for their unwavering faith in the rule of law and their belief
that in the end, come what may, justice would be served.
I thank the media for their diligence, for constantly striving to
meet their own ideal of accurate and responsible reporting and, not
least of all, for holding government accountable for the promises
that we have made, promises that, despite the hurdles and setbacks
that were faced, we have begun to deliver and will continue working
to deliver.
Most of all, I want to express my gratitude and appreciation to the
good people of Ghana for your patience, especially through the
stretches of darkness and uncertainty. The days ahead of us will be
brighter, and the opportunities for prosperity will be many.
My fellow citizens; My brothers and sisters,
This afternoon Nana Akufo-?Addo and I had a conversation, and I am
assured that with this court case over and the verdict announced,
we can now, all of us, put this behind us and turn our full
attention back to building this great nation.
This government is ready to work for you, for all Ghanaians.
It is my expectation that all Ghanaians are also prepared to work
to uplift our nation, because Ghana must succeed.
And if, together, we face whatever challenges come our way, our
systems and our institutions will continue to be strengthened; our
democracy will continue to grow, and our homeland, Ghana, will
succeed.
May God bless you.
And may God continue to bless this beloved nation of ours.
