Put partisan interests aside for common good - Akufo-Addo advises Zambian politicians
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has called on all the political players in Zambia to put their personal and partisan interests aside for the common good and the development of their country.
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“I have not come here to pass judgement, neither have I come here to find out who is right or who is wrong.
“I have come here to say that, as political actors, whether in government or in opposition, we should prove to the world that we respect the rule of law and are willing and able to submerge our individual and partisan preferences for the common good in the development of our countries,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo made the call at a state dinner held in his honour by the Zambian President, Mr Edgar C. Lungu, in Lusaka last Tuesday night.
The President and his wife are on a three-day official visit to Zambia.
Situation in Zambia worrying
President Akufo-Addo said developments in Zambia, and the political tension that characterised the last election, where the margin of victory for the winner was some 100,000 votes, had left many worried, because Zambia was one of democracy’s success stories on the continent.
“We should demonstrate that it is not the ambitions of Mr A or Mr B, neither is it the fortunes of party X or party Y, which we seek to advance. The stability and progress of Zambia, and, indeed, of all our countries, and the enhancement of our democracies should be the paramount consideration that must guide every action of Zambians and all of us Africans in our respective countries,” he said.
President Akufo-Addo also used the occasion to raise the issue of retired Ghanaian teachers in the Zambia whose retirement benefits had not been paid by that country.
The President said the issue of the non-payment of pension entitlements due a group of retired Ghanaian teachers, who had contributed towards educating a large segment of the Zambian society was longstanding.
“It is time that this issue was satisfactorily resolved, and my information is that, happily, positive efforts are now being made towards that end. Let the end come soon,” he urged.
Partnership between Ghana and Zambia
President Akufo-Addo expressed the hope that Ghana and Zambia would continually search for ways to cooperate during the tenure of the current leaders.
“I have no doubt that together, we can forge a new, strong partnership for cooperation between our two nations for the mutual benefit of our citizens,” he said.
On good governance in Africa, President Akufo-Addo said Africa was breeding a new generation of leaders “who are committed to governing their nationals according to the rule of law, respect for individual liberties and human rights, and the principles of democratic accountability.
“These leaders are looking past commodities to position their countries in the global marketplace at the high end of the value chain; leaders who are determined to free their people from a mindset of dependence, aid, charity and hand-outs; leaders who are bent on mobilising Africa’s own immeasurable resources to resolve Africa’s problems; leaders who recognise the connectedness of their people and economies to those of their neighbours,” he added.
That generation of African leaders, according to President Akufo-Addo, must not fail the long suffering African masses, noting that “they must help bring dignity and prosperity to our continent and its people.”
President Lungu’s take
For his part, President Lungu said the histories of Zambia and Ghana were intertwined in the struggle for independence and democracy, saying that the two countries were currently thriving on the rule of law.
He said the two countries believed in democracy and had respect for the rule of law.
“We respect people’s rights because people are our masters. We have placed a premium on them,” he said.
President Lungu said Ghana stood above many African countries in the fight for the liberation of the continent.
“At a time when Ghana had Kwame Nkrumah leading his country to political independence, Zambia had Kenneth Kaunda spearheading the country to independence. Zambia is not far from Ghana,” he stressed.
The Zambian President said Zambia and Ghana would speak the same language at the African Union (AU) in pushing for reforms at the United Nations (UN).
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