Former President Rawlings has charged Ghanaians to stop blaming government for all the current economic, social-political woes and work to tackle the indiscipline that has engulfed the country.
According to him even though government is “hugely responsible for the economic circumstance of the day’’ it is incumbent on the citizenry to also make a conscious effort to revive ‘’our conscience and sense of individual responsibility.”
‘’… many are quick to zero in on the almost desperate economic circumstance we find ourselves in and blame government; but we have conveniently forgotten to first look for the log in our own eyes,’’ he said.
Ghana has been hit with many economic challenges including a rising fiscal deficit, decline of the cedi against major currencies and labour agitations.
But speaking at a ceremony by the University of Education Winneba after receiving an Honorary Degree on Thursday, Mr. Rawlings noted until Ghanaians accept the challenge of working at achieving social and economic substance and being disciplined, nothing can be attained.
‘’I am however not confident we can achieve much if as individuals we do not tackle the level of indiscipline that is engulfing us; why are our communities filthy and our gutters choked, what happened to neighbourliness and a sense of communal spirit,’’ he quizzed.
“Until we revive our conscience and sense of individual responsibility and start policing each other we will continue to build a tight economic and political nous around our necks,’’ he opined.
Mr. Rawlings further added that the right and duty to confront our political leaders and insisting on ‘’transparency, accountability,equity and fair play’’ will have value if as a people we are ‘’incorruptible’’.
He also urged President Mahama to ensure that his appointees live modestly so the citizenry do same. ‘’…The unprecedented levels of corruption, offensive show of power and opulence by some at a time when our country requires prudence and frugality is something that I call on President Mahama and his vice to set their eyes on,” he said.
‘’… the people need to see a sign that the government is seriously committed to cleaning up [the] house so they can follow suit,’’ he mentioned.
The former president pointed out that corruption cannot be fought if ‘’we do not take on leaders and so called untouchables who have sort to institutionalised corruption’’.
“We need to restore Ghana to a status of a country worth dying for,” he stated.
Touching on the deadly Ebola disease and the cholera epidemic in Ghana, Mr. Rawlings said the fact that Ghana has not recorded the Ebola disease yet does not imply ‘’we are Ebola free’’.
‘’It is imperative that the relevant institutions intensify their readiness to confront the disease; I feel sad when I hear medical personnel talk of how they will flee if they suspect a patient to be infected with the virus.
“All medical personnel need urgent education on their responsibilities as far as the disease is concerned and protective clothing should be provided to all medical facilities,’’ he noted.
He called on corporate Ghana to support the fight against Ebola.
He also noted that cholera is a poor reflection of our sanitation practices.
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By: Evans Effah/citifmonline.com/Ghana