Kufuor seeks God's intervention

... for peaceful elections Accra, Sept. 10, GNA - President John Agyekum Kufuor on Friday asked Ghanaians to use the maiden National Prayer Breakfast, as an opportunity to seek God's intervention for the nation, particularly for a peaceful, free and fair polls in December. The prayers, he said, must be extended to all African nations, to facilitate holistic development, since peace and good governance resulting from the rule of law, would help realise the continent's dream of prosperity. "We have gathered here in Africa, a mighty continent endowed with great variety of natural resources and wealth. At the same time, however, this continent is beset with manifold problems. "Key among them are diseases, ignorance, poverty, civil strive and political instability, which emanate from bad governance, abuse of human rights and excessive parochialism. These ills have inhibited the development of the continent and the prosperity of its nations." The prayer meeting is a continental initiative designed to institutionalise the culture of prayer in the individual and collective lives of Africans. President Kufuor urged Africans- Christians, Muslims or traditionalists, to resolve as individuals and as nations, to pray to God to be used as vessels to make a difference in their respective communities and countries. "It is only by the Grace of God that this great continent is managing to re-gather its peoples to liberate themselves through a historic shared vision and a new crop of leaders who have decided to adopt good governance to entrench democracy and the rule of law to liberate and prosper our various peoples," he noted. Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who has been organising breakfast meetings in his country for sometime, commended Ghana's political leaders for attending the programme, saying it was a demonstration that Ghana's political leaders live in harmony. Professor John Evans Atta Mills and Dr Edward Mahama, flagbearers of the NDC and PNC, respectively, attended the programme. The renowned United States Astronaut, General Charles Duke (RTD), shared his experiences about his flight to the moon, which, he said, revealed the awesomeness of God and His beautiful creation. He said humanity should believe in the oneness of God and mankind and love one another, while they use technology to provide the material needs of all. Chief Justice George Kingsley Acquah prayed for God's forgiveness and for peace to be restored to Dagbon and the Darfur region of Sudan. The speeches were interspersed with music from the Winneba Youth Choir and the Police Band. Vice President Aliu Mahama, Ministers of State, parliamentarians and Ghanaians from all walks of life attended the ceremony held at the State House.