He said the youth of the country are in dire need of someone to keep their hopes alive, a task he believes can be delivered by Spio-Garbrah.

Speaking at a media event on Wednesday where Spio-Garbrah launched  his ‘Forward Agenda’ campaign to contest the NDC presidential primaries, Nunoo Mensah said the former Minister has his full support.

“I have decided to be behind Spio-Garbrah in what he is doing, because I believe that even though I am 80 years old, I have a few more years ahead of me. I have a job, not only to educate my children but people of that age, those who are coming behind us ought to know where we are coming from and where we are going. Many of our youth are in great difficulties to survive, but we do not tell you. When I look at the future and look at the youth, I get very worried about the future. We have many young people that are going round the country today without any better hope of a better future, but when we are coming together as a nation to find  a solution, sometimes we base it on too much politics in our report and do not tell the truth.”

“…So I am behind Spio-Garbrah, because I believe that we have to mentor the youth, I have been a young man before, and I have not been an old man for too long, what I went through as a young man, I don’t want our young people to go through the same things, so I am here today, because I believe that what Spio Garbrah is doing needs support from all of us and the media in particular, to broadcast what he is doing because the youths today are like a lost sheep and need people like me, and all of us to guide and inspire them into the future.”

Spio-Garbrah’s move comes at a time when the NDC is embarking on a re-organisation exercise after its defeat in the 2016 elections.

The Former Trade and Industry Minister says he’s the right man to tackle the many problems plaguing the country, adding that he’s ready to contest primaries later this year. He thus called on the party members and Ghanaians as a whole to support him.

“…So I am just saying that this Forward Agenda that has been established to carry the message of sacrifice of stewardship of partnership with many stakeholders and with commitment of the development of Ghana and Africa, is not one that can be led by just anybody. It is not a matter of talent, it is not just a matter competence or your financial capacity, it is the motivation in your spirit, which is very difficult to measure, difficult to examine. What will motivate someone 20 years ago, when he could not have been thinking of presidential potential to give up a 10,000 dollar monthly salary for a 500 dollar monthly salary. How many Ghanaians do you that know have done that or are willing to do that, so these are things that the media can examine, it is this knowledge that I have been privilege to experience and to observe and to see at firsthand, not somebody writing for me to read in a book, that has given the inspiration to say to you and to other Ghanaians especially those in my party, the National Democratic Congress (NDC), that should you wish to give me the opportunity to lead this party and hopefully to lead this country, that I know what it takes and what to do to solve most, if not all the problems we talk about in Ghana” he said

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By: Farida Yusif/Citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Nunoo-Mensah backs Spio-Garbrah’s 2020 bid to lead NDC appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah served as Chief of Defence Staff under the Armed Forces Revolutionary Council government in 1979, but was relieved of his post.

[contextly_sidebar id=”DKlRe71BmZj3M7dogLJ1dSeT0bGZ1uAt”]Following the revolution however, he was appointed to serve under the PNDC regime, led by Jerry John Rawlings, a position he left after some differences with the then Head of State.

According to Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah, who was speaking at the third event in the Accra Dialogue series at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration Law Faculty on Wednesday, it should be possible for the heads of these crucial institutions to serve across different administrations in spite of whichever political party is in power, as he had done.

“President Rawlings was a good friend of mine, but I resigned from the government and left on principle. You must have something to believe in; be principled, and when those principles are challenged, stand on your feet. Here in Ghana, every President who comes fires the old one and brings in a new one. We’re Ghanaians, I’ve served in every government – in CPP, in the NPP and the NDC. I’m a patriot and a nationalist, why can’t I serve any other government?” he quizzed.

He believes that the practice of replacing officials like the Inspector General of Police (IGP) and Chief of Defense Staff (CDS) whenever a new party comes into power was an unfortunate one that needs to be stopped.

“It’s wrong for us to come in and change IGPs and CDSs. They can overlap because we’re Ghanaians so who says that after serving in the previous NDC government, I can’t serve the NPP as well? I was Nana Addo’s closest friend in 1998, his campaign manager, so why can’t I serve NPP? I can serve anybody. I am a Ghanaian, and a patriot and I love my country. We shouldn’t be toying with our leaders, whether it’s the IGP or someone else. It’s wrong for you to come in and fire them, it doesn’t speak well of the country. They should also stand on their feet and go after anyone who does wrong, whether it’s NPP or the NDC.”

Brigadier Nunoo-Mensah called on persons appointed IGPs and CDSs to be more assertive and “stand their ground” whenever they are asked to compromise their principles.

He stated that, his refusal to settle on compromises while serving in successive administrations cost him his position, an action he does not regret.

“I’ve been fired twice already as Chief of Defense Staff and that’s why experience is always the best teacher. I’m asking the IGPs and the CDSs to be tough, but when you are tough, there’ll be consequences. Be prepared to stand on your feet. I was in the school which trained Winston Churchill and we were taught to be tough and principled. That’s what our leaders should be,” he noted.

“If you are a military man, or an IGP, you know your job. I was fired as CDS because I wouldn’t take anything because I was a principled person. The President then couldn’t take my principled position and fired me but I didn’t bother.”

The current IGP, COP David Asante-Apeatu and CDS, Major General Obed Akwa, were appointed by the current New Patriotic Party (NPP) government after the previous occupants of the position who had been appointed under the previous administration retired.

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By: Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Stop sacking IGPs, CDSs after change in gov’ts – Nunoo-Mensah appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.