Full speech delivered by Hon Catherine Lankono on behalf of the Regional Minister at the 65th Ghana’s independence anniversary celebration in Nadowli

Hon. Regional Minister, Namine, Service Commanders, Heads of Department, Security Personnel, Representatives of Political Parties, Our Friends from the Media, My dear Students and Pupils, Distinguished Invited Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is a pleasure to be here this morning to address you on the occasion of Ghana’s 65th Independence Anniversary. I want to thank the school children and gallant security officers who have been on parade. I also thank our traditional leaders, religious leaders, development partners and everyone who has honoured our invitation.

Today marks the anniversary of an event that changed the course of our country, Ghana. It is an anniversary of freedom, the freedom for which our forebears sacrificed their lives.

As a people, we have the capacity and the courage to achieve whatever it is we desire, be it freedom, democracy or development. We are willing to work to make it happen. It is this tendency of unity that brings us together as one people with a common destiny.

Governments over the years have taken various initiatives to improve upon the lives and living conditions of our people in the areas of education, agriculture and health, among others. However, much remains to be done if this country is to consolidate its position within the comity of nations.

It is for this reason that the government of H.E. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has undertaken work to help achieve this objective.

The prudent management of our economy brought us sustained growth consistently from 2017 to 2019, making Ghana the preferred destination of foreign direct investment in West Africa.

We had become self-sufficient in food production and, for the first time in a long while, exported surpluses to our neighbours.

Sustained efforts through digitisation were being made to formalise our economy. We had hastened our critical journey of industrialisation and value-addition activities, whose end result would be to create jobs for the teeming masses of Ghanaians.

Sadly, the emergence of the global pandemic of COVID-19 derailed our progress and wreaked havoc on all aspects of our national life. Lives and livelihoods have been affected, the economy has suffered, and Government has had to cushion households and businesses from the effects of the virus.

Ever since it is becoming evident that government alone cannot sustain the developmental agenda of this country and needs the unflinching support of all and sundry.

It is in this light that the theme for this year’s anniversary celebration, “Working together, Bouncing Back Better”, is well suited for the changing times.

The economic challenges that the nation is going through today is a clear manifestation that the government’s efforts to meet the needs of the people ultimately need to be supplemented by the private sector.

Ladies and Gentlemen, while seeking partners, players at all levels should be innovative and think outside the box. The partnership will increase opportunities to learn and adopt new skills, secure access to resources, share risks and benefits. In partnership, we seek gains for all parties.

To this end, I want to use this occasion to call on all players in the economy – public sector institutions, NGOs, civil society organizations, professional and trade unions policy think-tanks, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, individuals and business concerns to respond to this clarion call and partner with government to be able to bring about meaningful and sustainable development of our beloved country.

This can be achieved if we have a common sense of purpose and a shared agenda. The government is providing the way, and no individual or group should be left behind.

Namine, leaders of the various political parties, religious leaders and all herein present, I wish to use this opportunity to extend a hand of partnership to you all to help me develop this region in line with the government’s desire of building a Ghana beyond aid.

In this regard, I am appealing to you all to side with the government in its call to sacrifice in building our nation, especially the future of the youth. It is against this background that I wish to make a passionate appeal to all of you to support the e-levy being introduced by the government to help sustain the economy.

Today, Electronic Transaction has provided a platform for bringing the informal sector to formal financial services, and that provides a channel to implement a tax regime that reaches almost all citizens. The potential revenue generated will be used to finance the ‘YouStart’ Initiative, road construction and develop the digital space of Ghana amongst several others.

For instance, the YouStart initiative would be a vehicle to support young entrepreneurs to access capital, gain technical skills, receive training and mentoring to enable them to start their own businesses, which will go a long way to solving the nation’s youth employment challenge.

Similarly, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo led administration has revitalized and revamped Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to provide the youth with technical and employable skills that will make them suitable for employment and entrepreneurship.

In this regard, over one billion dollars has been invested in TVET infrastructure over the last five years. Meanwhile, all the TVET institutions in the country have been placed on the Computerized School Selection System. This dramatic change in policy direction provides access to all students who desire to acquire skills training to be able to enrol in the TVET institutions.

Let us support and take advantage of the various initiatives that the government has introduced in order to improve our living conditions.

To my dear students and pupils, I say congratulations on the wonderful footwork and gymnastic displayed.

You are the future of this country, and the enthusiasm and gallantry displayed today to demonstrate your willingness to take up the nation’s mantle in the not too distant future.

To our security agencies and other voluntary organizations, we say thank you for your wonderful display and sense of unity, which also portrays that we all can partner in the interest of mother Ghana.

On this note, ladies and gentlemen, I wish all of you a successful 65th Independence Anniversary celebration. Let us be mindful and avoid all excesses in our celebration in order to remain healthy and alive to build a new Ghana that will be self-reliant.
Thank you for your attention.

May God richly bless us all and our homeland Ghana.