Mahama Salutes Ghanaians For Hard Work

President John Dramani Mahama has credited the people of Ghana for working hard towards the transformation that continues to take place in the country. �It is the people of Ghana who play an active role in those stories......the worthy and capable people who have resuscitated and are actively rebuilding their communities and country,� he said. Speaking at the breakfast meeting of the Royal African Society in London yesterday, President Mahama, however, expressed concern over the fact that the incredible input of the people to national development was sometimes reduced to mere statistics. Ingenuity of Ghanaians The President, who spoke on the topic, �The opportunity and safety of your investments in Ghana�, touched on the ingenuity of Ghanaians, saying it had had a positive impact on the strides made by the nation. He said that had shown in many fields of national endeavour. He mentioned the Information Technology (IT) and energy sectors as two of the areas where Ghanaians had excelled. The President said stories about Ghanaians who became successful after they had initially been written off abounded. Collectively those stories had shown the world what was actually possible in Ghana. Bright future Predicting a bright and prosperous future for the country, the President said, �This is an exciting time for Ghana.� �We are crossing new thresholds, expanding our development, creating partnerships and expanding frontiers in a way that not so long ago were barely imaginable,� he said, adding that the nation was encountering opportunities in growth and investments that appeared limitless. He indicated that throughout the transitions and transformation of the country, it had come out stronger, no matter the challenges. He said the peace and stability prevailing in the country had provided good ground for investments to thrive. �Throughout Ghana�s history, we have remained a beacon of peace, even during the decades when portions of the West African sub-region were engulfed in civil wars. �Ghana boasts an active and engaged civil society, solid and well-functioning institutions, a free and independent media and respect for the rule of law is unassailable,� he said. The President said Ghana was poised to become the trailblazer on the African continent to forge new paths for development, political stability and economic independence. Selling Africa and Ghana He said he was in London to sell Africa and Ghana, and indicated, �Africa has been sold too many times by too many people and in too many ways that have benefited no one.� President Mahama said he was in London to tell the story with facts, adding, �It�s those stories that, even during the time when those dismal projections were being written, made Africa feel so attractive, inviting and full of promise to those who understood the transformation that was quickly taking place.� He expressed concern over the fact that in spite of the progress made by Africa, sections of the international community tended to paint a picture that told just a portion of the story. President Mahama said he learnt his first and most important lessons on investment quite early in his youth and it had helped to shape him positively.