'We will no longer experience off peak load-shedding' - President Mahama

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Attn: Paragraph two of item NSOC 003 filed earlier on April 7 with Slug 'President Prayers' is corrected to read: 'He explained that the load-shedding would from now be carried out only during the night time…' and not the day time.  

Accra, April 8, GNA - President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday announced that government has ended the off peak load-shedding in the country, while the entire load-shedding would end by the end of April.

He explained that the load-shedding would from now be carried out only during the night time, and he would from Monday visit Aboadze and other Thermal Plants to ensure that Ghana regained her electricity she enjoyed over the years.

'Government will also ensure that never again shall we experience the electricity load shedding in the coming years.' He added.

President Mahama said this when he joined Christians from all walks of life during the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service at the Black Star Square, Accra.

The programme on the theme: 'The people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits' was to climax the 56th independence anniversary and re-invigorate the energies of Ghanaians to work towards the growth and development of the country.

It was also attended by Vice President Paa Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur, Edward Doe-Adjaho, Speaker of Parliament and Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Chief Justice, Mr Prosper Bani, Chief of Staff, members of the Council of State, Ministers, the Clergy and religious among other dignitaries.

President Mahama has also directed all the relevant authorities to address all the major issues involving members of the Ghana Medical Association, who are bracing up to embark on an industrial action.

He said the position of the doctors was so crucial that, lives once lost could not be reclaimed and gave the assurance that government would fulfill all the promises it had made in the implementation of the single spine salary structure.

President Mahama commended Ghanaians for their prayers and support that had leverage the country's development and gave the assurance that government was doing everything possible to make the load-shedding the thing of history in the coming years.

He gave the assurance that the country would come out of the problems such as load-shedding, poor water services, industrial unrests and general discontent and called on Ghanaians to put their hands on deck to achieve that ambition.

The President said his visit to Nigeria would also enhance the opportunities as the country would now receive regular supply of crude oil and other petroleum products in the nearest future.

Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, in a sermon stated that the Church would continue to pray to ward off detractors, which he described as 'evil forces' that would not succeed in their diabolical intentions.

He suggested to government to create equal opportunities for all Ghanaian youth to acquire jobs and other amenities irrespective of their political, religious, social, tribal and environmental affiliation in any part of the country.

Archbishop Duncan-Williams said thanksgiving was mandatory and necessary to demonstrate gratitude and appreciation that would encourage God to continue to shower blessings and prosperity on the entire Nation.

He said Ghana had come a long way from the culture of silence to the current democratic dispensation and Ghanaians must continue to be thankful to God for those mercies, adding 'In Ivory Coast, Kenya there have been killings, and Ghanaians should congratulate themselves for taking election disputes to court, rather than resorting to killings.

Archbishop preached against the growth of tribal sentiments, which he said could be detrimental to the development and growth of democracy and avoid what happened in Rwanda and other African countries.

He called for the institution of a national agenda that would serve as guide to future politicians, rather than dwelling on individual political party manifestoes that were widening the political and tribal gaps in the country.

This, he said, could be streamlined through the revision of the constitution to erase 'Winner Takes All' system, which would not influence national unity.

'The country deserves better, and we can only achieve that by avoiding jealousy, character assassination, bickering and political attacks that have taken the centre stage of our social and political lives in the country.'

Bishop Dag Heward-Mills, praying for national security and stability, asked God to encourage the President and government to ward off criminal activities including armed robbery, drug trafficking and other activities that could undermine the peace and stability of the country.

G.N.A