First Lady Mrs. Mahama applauds Ghanaians abroad

The First Lady, Mrs. Lordina Mahama has commended Ghanaian’s living in the diaspora for partnering the government to bring development to the doorstep of the people of Ghana.

She said the development of the country is not for the government alone, but a shared responsibility for all.

Mrs. Mahama was addressing a gathering of chiefs and queen mothers, both local and international and other dignitaries at a colorful durbar to mark the 7th Annual Convention of the Council of Brong Ahafo Associations of North America (COBAANA) at Worcester, Massachusetts in the US.

The convention was under the theme ‘Changing Lives Through Education.

The gathering of chiefs and queen mothers from Brong Ahafo also aims at raising funds to put up a six classroom block at Ayaakomase, near Nsoatre in the Brong Ahafo Region to supplement government’s efforts.

The First Lady said the theme ‘Changing Lives Through Education is appropriate and much fits into the objectives of the Lordina Foundation.

One of the Foundations core objectives is changing lives through education especially through technical and skills based training.

The First lady indicated that children who have dreams to go to school, to realize their full potential, need a helping hand to achieve those dreams. Mrs. touted some of her foundations achievements.

Mrs. Mahama said government’s expansion of facilities and equipping existing primary, basic and pre-tertiary schools is to achieve parity in education.

She said government is also building and commissioning more Community Day Senior High schools, to increase access and to reduce imbalance in the provision of education across the country.

This is the vision of the government, to transform Ghana into a leading education hub, for the West African Sub-region.

For his part, the Mayor of Worcester, Joseph Petty in a commended the association for working hard to provide a school building to enable the children in Ghana have access to quality education.

The Omanhene of the Dormaa Traditional area, Osagyefo Osadeayo Nana Agyemang advised the people to give praise were it is due and stop unnecessary criticisms which does not help in the development of the nation.

He said Ghana has had presidents in the past, namely Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufour, and Professor Atta Mills who have all contributed to the development of the country during their time.

He said currently President John Dramani Mahama if for nothing at all has brought water to the people of Ghana and the development projects he has done is there for everyone to see.

Ghana’ Ambassador to the United States, Lieutenant General Joseph Henry Smith (retd) said COBAANA has come this far because of commitment and genuine interest to make significant impact on the lives of people and communities back home.

He said the display of the rich and unique Ghanaian culture was splendid as it was what sets it apart from the others so it was important that it was passed on to the youth.

Present at the ceremony was the Minister of Tourism and Creative Arts, Mrs. Elizabeth Ofosu-Agyare, the Brong Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Eric Opoku, Nana Yaw Kagberese President of the Regional House of Chiefs and Paramount chief of the Yeji Traditional area, Nana Ansah Adu-Baah and a number of queen mothers.