Posted on:
www.dailyguideghana.com
By William Yaw
Owusu
Tuesday,
November 22, 2016
New Patriotic Party (NPP) flag bearer, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo,
has received the prestigious Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for
Social Justice. He used the occasion to stress the need for all governments to step
up efforts towards defeating terrorism through education and peace.
He said the threat of terror is perhaps the greatest danger the world
faces at the moment.
Coveted Award
Nana Akufo-Addo was not in Mumbai, India, for the awards ceremony
due to his hectic campaign engagements and was represented by former minister
Hackman Owusu-Agyeman and his team.
He
was the main speaker and delivered a keynote address through Mr. Owusu-Agyeman on
the theme, “Combating Terror Through Education and Peace.”
The
award is given to people all over the world who distinguish themselves in the
areas of democracy, human rights and social justice; and it is coming at a time
the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and its leadership have made it
their agenda to paint Nana Addo black with spurious allegation of violence.
Combating Terrorism
Nana Akufo-Addo said that misinformation and indoctrination had led
to religious conflicts and terrorism and called for special attention to what
he called “particular curriculum that identifies indoctrination.”
Nana said the time has come for all governments to take “an abiding
interest” in educating the young people, adding, “This way people with
terrorist inclinations will not infiltrate the education system to unleash unto
the world an army of youth who are happy to die for the selfish interests of
the so-called warlords.”
He said, “We have to pay attention to what the youth imbibe in their
various educational institutions, both religious and secular, otherwise we will
continue to become pawns for terrorist organizations.”
Emphasis On Education
Nana Akufo-Addo said he has always maintained that “education is the ultimate leveler,” asserting,
“I’ve constantly argued that for any society to make progress, it must educate
its entire population without exception.
“I propose and still maintain that an Akufo-Addo government in Ghana
will make education accessible and free up to the senior high school level for
everybody. I want them to be educated so that they would not be used to cause
mayhem.”
Democratic Institutions
He said governments, particularly those in Africa, should ensure
that democratic institutions can deliver opportunities and prosperity to
Africa’s longsuffering peoples, noting that Africa’s opportunities and challenge
are virtually the same.
“We have societies that present limited opportunities for the
masses. What Africa needs above all is value addition, especially in the
educational system that will provide the necessary skills for every child.
I’ve
made education the foundation for my vision, to build a knowledge-based industrialized
economy in Ghana,” he pointed out.
Nana Akufo-Addo said, “Our human potential and capital has not been
developed fully on our continent’s rich resources. Until we bridge the gap, we
are squandering opportunities that could move us forever from a culture of
handouts towards the creation of dignified and confident society.”
He posited, “Participants in dignified societies would hardly be
available to be used in senseless wars for people who do not have their
countries and the world at heart,” and urged leaderships to always prioritize
issues concerning injustice to guarantee peace.
African Elites
Nana Addo said in Africa, a few elite in the ruling class control
all the resources saying, “Rising economic inequality is threatening not only
economic stability, but our democratic political systems. In far too many
countries, the benefit of wealth is not being equitably distributed. This is
not recipe for stability and sustainability; and until the inequalities are
reserved, it may be difficult to eliminate terrorism.”
Glowing Tribute
He paid a glowing posthumous tribute to the iconic Mother Theresa, “The
story of Mother Theresa’s influence on the world will continue to be told
perhaps till the end of time.”
He also commended highly the organizers, particularly Dr. Abraham
Mathai, President of the Foundation, noting, “For the world to recognize the
effort of a small man from a small West African country towards attainment of
peace and security in our world is most heartwarming.”
He said India, although a nuclear country, “inspires most of us in
Africa because it is always at the forefront of efforts to promote peace,
understanding and multiculturalism.”
Nana’s Role
Dr.
Mathai, explaining the decision to choose Nana Akufo-Addo for the award said, “The
manner in which you (Nana Akufo-Addo) sacrificed your presidential ambition by
accepting to preserve peace in the West African nation of Ghana, at a time of
high tension, thereby preventing civil war, is truly remarkable.”
He further
said that Nana Akufo-Addo’s “statesman-like qualities have truly distinguished
you as the defender of democracy which should be emulated far and beyond.”
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