Ghana celebrates Nelson Mandela International Day
UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-Moon, has challenged every individual to devote 67 minutes of his life to public service on every July 18 to commemorate President Nelson Mandela’s birthday.
He said the time could be devoted to either tutoring a child, feed the hungry, care for the environment, volunteer at a hospital or community centre.
Explaining the significance of the sacrifice on the occasion of President Mandela’s 94th birthday, Ban said each minute would represent each year of President Mandela’s service to humanity.
President Mandela, a lawyer by profession, became a political prisoner for 27 years of his life for his stand for social justice and freedom of the oppressed.
However, being in prison did not make him weaker like the authorities expected, but stronger and a powerful symbol of the resistance movement.
President Mandela later became the first democratically elected President of South Africa in 1991 and unlike most of his African compatriots, did not stand for re-election at the end of his term.
Ban, in a statement read for him at a ceremony in Accra on Wednesday to mark the President Nelson Mandela International Day, explained that he gave 67 years of his life to bring change to the people of South Africa.
The UN instituted the celebration three years ago.
In Ghana, the celebration was held at the Senior Correctional Centre, formally known as the Borstal Institute in Accra, where a Youth Forum on the topic: “Legacy of Nelson Mandela: From Prison to President” was organised to share information about President Mandela’s exemplary life and impact on the continent with the inmates.
Ban said on since his release from prison, President Mandela served as a peacemaker, President, healer of nations, mentor to generations of leaders and people from all walks of life throughout the world.
He urged society to take action, inspire change and make every day a President Mandela Day.
Ban said the proper gift humanity could give back on the occasion of President Mandela’s 94th birthday was to emulate his vision of service to humanity to bring change to the world for the better.
Mrs Cynthia Prah, National Information Officer, UN Information Centre (UNIC), said the Day which was instituted by the UN General Assembly in 2009 was in recognition of President Mandela’s contribution to the culture of peace and freedom and his values and dedication to the service of humanity.
The Day was marked by special events each year internationally to remember his achievements and inspire society to emulate such acts.
She said the programme was to encourage and inspire the inmates to embrace decent moral values and create a positive attitude in the world around them.
Mrs Prah advised the inmates to consider their present situation as an opportunity for self examination, rather than blaming themselves or being bitter against society.
She said being in solitary confinement was not the end of their lives, adding “If Nelson Mandela did it, we can all do it. He should serve as an icon and a beacon of hope for what we are capable of receiving irrespective of where we are”.
“Therefore, when you come out, remember that you are a good person. You deserve a wonderful life, full of success, happiness, joy and excitement, and entitled to have happy relationships, meaningful work and financial independence.”
Dr Michael Kpessah, Lecturer, Institute of African Studies, University of Ghana, Legon, challenged the inmates to make good use of the time and numerous opportunities that were available to them while serving their various terms at the centre.
He reminded them that unlike President Mandela who did not have the opportunity of schooling or learning any additional vocation, but spent his term in solitary confinement, they, had all the opportunities to school or learn vocations such as carpentry, masonry, barbering, electrical and auto mechanics.
Dr Kpessah cited examples of great men like Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Mahatma Ghandi and President Mandela, whose lives were turned around after spending time in prison and affected the world positively.
He reminded the inmates that their success and impact on society in future would depend on the lives they lived after the walls of the centre and if positive they could break boundaries.
Dr Kpessah encouraged them to spend their time reading quality books about some of the great men in history and also try to write their own life stories which could serve as a source of inspiration to other generations.
Deputy Superintendent of Prisons Gloria Fati Abudu, a Staff Officer of the Institution, speaking on the topic: “Discipline in a correctional centre, a requirement and a reward”, gave a list of legislations governing a correctional institution, which allowed inmates to enjoy certain level of rights and freedom, including the right to receive information on rules and regulations of the institutions.
However, she cautioned that such rights went with responsibilities where inmates were expected to be disciplined and adjust their lives to respect the rules and regulations.
Mr Stephen Cofie, Deputy Director and Officer In-charge, explained that the centre which was established in 1947 and dedicated to save the young and careless boys from wasted life of crime, had a holding capacity of 300 young offenders and juveniles, but was currently holding 116 boys.
He said currently the ages of the inmates ranged between 13 and 18 years and they were made to undergo vocational, formal and non- formal education.
The centre has a JHS where inmates are prepared to write the BECE and those successful are either sponsored by their parents, NGOs or churches to continue to SHS.
The inmates also benefits from a computer laboratory established at the centre while others are thought the basics of reading and writing.
Source: GNA