Ghanaians must be non-partisan in their patriotism - Ambassador Smith

Ghana’s new ambassador to the United Kingdom (UK) H.E Victor Smith has called on Ghanaians in the UK to unite and be patriotic in their diversity and push for the development of Ghana.

In an exclusive interview with Mr. Archibald Hammond of Osibisa Radio, London, Ambassador Smith revealed that his vision is to drive investment from the UK and Irish companies to Ghana and to encourage the return of Ghanaian expertise and entrepreneurs who are able to team up with the foreign companies to Ghana.

He decried the attitude of some Ghanaians who over the years have engineered various forms of acts aimed at tarnishing the image of Ghana in the foreign land noting that such doings discourage foreign companies wishing to invest in Ghana.

He said the fact that one might not support a party in power or like what those in charge are doing does not mean "we should go destroying the image of the country or pulling down the efforts of those in charge instead, it is important for all Ghanaians to support and after four years make a decision."

He said, listening to some Ghanaian radio stations in London, it worries him that people can be so aggressive. “…and I keep on asking myself if you waste four years of your life trying to pull down a government who is trying to develop the country, who are you fooling, how long do you live yourself, even if you don’t like the government in power, use those four years to encourage businesses to invest in Ghana. This is how it is done in this country (UK) and we must learn from them”.

Ambassador Smith who became a Presidential Staffer to the late President J. E. A. Mills and was later posted out as Ghana’s Ambassador to the Czech Republic also pledged to work closely with the various Ghanaian groupings particularly the Ghana Union to bring together Ghanaians in the UK under one umbrella with good leadership to champion the course and welfare of Ghanaians.

The new ambassador who used to reside in the UK and returned to Ghana in 1994 to join the State Enterprises Commission as a consultant on the restructuring of State-owned enterprises said it is his intention in the discharge of his duties as the Ambassador of Ghana in the UK to treat various political parties and groupings equally as that is what is needed to move the country forward.