President Akufo-Addo urges Zambian politicians to eschew partisanship   

President Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has advised political actors in Zambia to quash their individual and partisan interest for the common good and development of the country.

“As political actors, whether in government or in opposition, we should prove to the world that we respect the rule of law and are willing and able to submerge our individual and partisan preferences for the common good in the development of our countries,” he indicated.

President Akufo-Addo gave the advice when speaking at a State Banquet held in his honour by his Zambian counterpart, President Edgar Lungu.  
The President is on a three-day official State visit to that country.

He said his visit to Zambia was “not come here to pass judgement, neither have I come here to find out who is right or who is wrong,” indicating however that recent developments in that country, and the political tension that characterised the last election, where the margin of victory for the winner was some 100,000 votes, had left many worried, as Zambia’s democracy was one of the success stories on the African continent.

“We should demonstrate that it is not the ambitions of Mr. A or Mr. B, neither is it the fortunes of party X or party Y, which we seek to advance. The stability and progress of Zambia, and, indeed, of all our countries, and the enhancement of our democracies should be the paramount consideration that must guide every action of Zambians and all of us Africans in our respective countries,” he said. 

Whilst thanking the people and successive governments of Zambia for the hospitality extended to Ghanaians resident there over the years, President Akufo-Addo raised for the consideration of the relevant authorities a matter which had been outstanding for some time.

“This involves the longstanding issue of the non-payment of pension monies due a group of retired Ghanaian teachers, who have contributed towards educating a large segment of the Zambian society. 

It is time that this issue was satisfactorily resolved, and my information is that, happily, positive efforts are now being made towards that end. Let the end come soon”, he added. 

President Akufo-Addo expressed optimism that Ghana and Zambia would continually search for ways to co-operate during his and the tenure of office of President Edgar Lungu. 

“I have no doubt that, together, we can forge a new, strong partnership for cooperation between our two nations for the mutual benefit of our two peoples,” he added. 

President Akufo-Addo reiterated his persuasion that Africa was breeding a new generation of leaders “who are committed to governing their peoples according to the rule of law, respect for individual liberties and human rights, and the principles of democratic accountability.” 

These leaders, he stressed, “are looking past commodities to position their countries in the global marketplace at the high end of the value chain; leaders who are determined to free their peoples from a mindset of dependence, aid, charity and hand-outs; leaders who are bent on mobilizing Africa’s own immeasurable resources to resolve Africa’s problems; leaders who recognise the connectedness of their peoples and economies to those of their neighbours.” 

This generation of African leaders, according to President Akufo-Addo, must not fail the long-suffering African masses, noting that “they must help bring dignity and prosperity to our continent and its peoples.”

Source: GNA

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