Ghana's Glory

March 13, 2007 will from now on become significant in the history of the country as it marks the day on which President John Agyekum Kufuor became the guest of Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II of Britain.

Unlike Julius Caesar's Ides of March, President Kufuor was at the height of his personal fulfilment yesterday when he enjoyed the coach ride with the Queen after the Ceremonial Welcome on Horse Guard through the Mall to Buckingham Place.

Certainly, that was a momentous occasion.

No matter what people say about colonialism and imperialism, the peaceful co-existence and co-operation between Black and White people is significant.

It is embedded in the philosophy of the great educationist, Dr Emmanuel Kwegyir Aggrey of Anomabu, who compared the relationship between the races to the keys on the piano.

Yesterday, President Kufuor joined his former counterparts — Bourigiba of Tunisia, Sam Nujoma of Namibia, and Nelson Mandela of South Africa — and incumbent Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe as the only Heads of State from Africa who have enjoyed a State Visit to the United Kingdom.

We recall the Queen's visit to Ghana in November 1999 which demonstrated how she cherished the prosperity of Ghana as a member of the Commonwealth and her historical role in African affairs.

But how true it is for President Kufuor to have said that he is privileged to be President of Ghana at this time of the nation's history!

The honour and glory did not go only to the President and his wife but Ghana as a whole. That was eloquently demonstrated with the Ghana Flag which draped the dais for the welcoming ceremony.

Surely, the more than 4,000 Ghanaians who were at the Buckingham Palace to witness the ceremony must have been beside themselves with joy and happiness as they saw their President drive with the Queen as equals, not as master-subject or any subservient relationship.

Indeed, the President's glory has a useful lesson for politicians who would try to use all kinds of dubious means to gain access to power.

Kufuor learnt to exercise patience, to await his turn. He started as a councillor, became a mayor of Kumasi, a Member of Parliament, deputy Foreign Minister and now President.

For us at home, we cannot but share in the glory. Those who are watching our economy can testify that the past six years have not been wasted.

The rule of law has been amply manifested and respect for human rights has also gone up, even though some miscreants have attacked innocent people through armed robbery.

As we share in the glory, what is important for every Ghanaian is to ensure that everyone contributes towards the economic and social development of the country.

President Kufuor has, indeed, made Ghana proud, even though some cynics, in their usual manner, would sneer at the glorious moment.