Remain loyal to Ghana and the constitution despite hard times – Mahama to Armed Officers

John Dramani Mahama on Thursday joined calls for the ranks and file of the military and all security services to uphold the 1992 Constitution and hold it in high esteem despite the economic hardships in Ghana.

He said the challenging times should not trigger them to overthrow the Akufo-Addo administration.

Addressing the nation’s present predicament at the University of Professional Studies, Accra Auditorium in a message themed “Building The Ghana We Want”, the former President passionately appealed to the military to resist any thought that would destabilize the country’s peace.

“As I conclude let me state that I agree with the President and wish to add my voice to his call on our Armed Forces and security services to remain loyal to the State and the Constitution,” he pleaded.

Mr, Mahama stated that the current economic circumstances “though dire, do not give excuse for any acts that are unconstitutional.”

“Together we can save Ghana and build the Ghana we want regardless of how bad the situation is. I still have hope that we can turn things around. Wholeheartedly, I believe in the resilience of our people,” the 2020 NDC flagbearer stated.

His comments come on the heels of high taxes and rising inflation which has brought untold hardship on the people and calls for the dismissal of the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta, and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen.

Earlier, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo pleaded with the Armed Officers to remain “patriotic” and “loyal” to the Ghanaian Constitution in light of the present predicament.

He urged the security agency to remain “excellent patriots, excellent ambassadors of the security agencies and excellent citizens of our country”, saying he is very proud to serve as their Commander in Chief.

“We are going through a difficult time in the history of our country …. We are going through a difficult time in our economy. We also going through a difficult time as far as security is concerned” the President told the men and women in uniform.”

“On the economy, we are all aware of the events that have taken place in the last year which have brought a lot of things under strain. We are making every effort in negotiations that are taking place with foreign partners to put our economy back in a good space. Very soon the difficulties that confront our economy are going to be things of the past.

“I want to encourage you to continue the good work that you’re doing for our country. I encourage you to stand firm in your loyalty to the Republic, your loyalty to the Constitution of our nation so that the orderly, peaceful development of our country which is the only way that can guarantee the future prosperity we are all working for can come about…. So that these [present] generations of Ghanaians will leave as our legacy, that even when things were difficult in Ghana, we all held together under our Republican institutions and our constitution to find a way to a better future for our nation. I am confident that we can do it and I am counting on you to help me do it,” President Akufo-Addo said in front of troops during his Kumasi Tour at Idris Barracks in the Ashanti Region.

Several Ghanaians including opposition parties and some 80 NPP MPs have mounted pressure on President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to remove Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta and the Minister of State at the Finance Ministry, Charles Adu Boahen amid the current economic challenges.

They believe sacking the two key persons will help restore confidence in Ghana’s economy.

Meanwhile, the managing editor of the Insight Newspaper Kwesi Pratt has stated that replacing the Finance Minister will not change the country’s fortunes instead he calls for fixing the economic structure.

Speaking on Good Morning Ghana Wednesday, Mr. Pratt said the fundamental problem with Ghana’s economy is structural and not its managers,

“The impression being created; ‘remove Ofori Atta and Charles Adu Boahen and everything will be fine’ is a false impression.

 

By: Bernard Ralph Adams | Metrotvonline.com | Ghana

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