First lady In London

LET'S CONTINUE TO LIVE TOGETHER AS ONE PEOPLE – SAYS THE FIRST LADY

Mrs. Theresa Kufuor, the First Lady has urged Ghanaians to continue to live together as one people with a common destiny.

She said as children of God it was imperative for Ghanaians to learn to love each other, help one another and build upon the existing ties of unity binding our immediate and external families.

She stressed the need for Ghanaians to always remember their roots first and bear in mind that they are, first and foremost, Ghanaians and should always behave as true Ghanaians no matter where they reside.

The First Lady made these remarks at Ghanaian Chaplaincy Church Service held at the Methodist Central Hall in London as part of the 47th anniversary celebration of Ghana's Republic.

The service drew participants from various Ghanaian religious groups, representatives of community associations, chiefs and opinion leaders within the London Metropolis, while singing groups and choirs from various churches participated in the well-attended church service.

Speaking at the service, Mr. Isaac Osei, Ghana's High Commissioner to the UK stressed the importance of unity among Ghanaians and urged everyone to see himself as his brother's keeper.

He said Ghanaians should continue to translate their traditional hospitality into fruitful co-existence in the interest of national development.

He added that diversity was a sure guarantee for the growth of the nation and called on Ghanaians to protect their hard-earned and enviable reputation as a loving and peaceful people.

Preaching the sermon under the theme 'Tell the People of Ghana to go Forward' the Ghanaian Minister for London, Rev. Godwin Nii Odonkor urged Ghanaians to thank God for what He has done for the nation.

He said 'Ghanaians now have a country steeped in democracy and constitutional rule where freedom of association and peaceful co-existence are manifested' and urged Ghanaians to eschew bitterness, ill-feeling and discord.

He declared: 'Let us accept that the whole of Ghana is always greater than each ethnic group'.

He said our natural differences should be seen as gifts from God, gifts meant to work in concert towards the attainment of our common dream, emphasising that Ghanaians should let Ghana be the AGENDA.

He called on Ghanaians not to forget the past painful experience so quickly and urged them not to give in to self-acclaimed liberators, redeemers and defenders who prowled on our weaknesses.

Concluding that 'Ghana has come very far', Rev. Odonkor urged Ghanaians never to 'go backwards' but to move the country forward since 'there is no other choice, there is no standing still' and 'time waits for no man'.