General News of Sunday, 10 June 2012

Source: GNA

Vice President calls for unity among Ghanaians at all times

Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Sunday advised Ghanaians not to be swayed by political differences to disintegrate the unity they had acquired from the past generations.

He said it was unhealthy for Ghanaians to demonstrate their unity and love for one another only at social gatherings such as funerals, weddings and out-doorings, but demonstrated hatred and insults in respect of their political considerations.

Vice President Mahama gave this advice during the final funeral rites of the late Alhaji Iddi Saani, Member of Parliament for Wulensi at Klagon, a suburb of Tema in the Greater Accra Region.

The funeral was attended by top ranking politicians including Cletus Avoka, Majority leader in Parliament, former Vice President Aliu Mahama, Rashid Pelpuo, Deputy Majority leader, Mahamadu Bawumia, Vice Presidential candidate for NPP, and Collins Dauda, Minister for Lands and Natural Resources.

Others were; Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communications, Samuel Ofosu Ampofo, Minister for Local Government and Rural Development, Mustapha Ahmed, Deputy Minister for Environment, Science and Technology, Hajia Boya Gariba, Deputy Minister for Women and Children, Anthony Abayifaa Karbo, National Youth Organiser of the NPP and Sheik Nuhu Sharabutu, National Chief Imam.

Vice President Mahama described the late Member of Parliament as a gentle and soft-spoken man who stood for honesty and commitment which earned him the admiration from both the NDC and NPP governments.

He called on all and sundry to pray for the soul of the MP and others who had over the years died serving the country.

Former Vice President Aliu Mahama said his death was a blow to Ghanaian politics and urged supporters of various political parties to place Ghana above partisan consideration.

He called for the use of diligence and civil language before, during and after this year’s general election in December.

Mr. Cletus Avoka described the late Wulensi MP as gentle, affable, respectful and a man of the people, who accommodated everybody irrespective of their character.

The late Iddi Saani, who left behind a wife and seven children was 56 years.

He became the MP for Wulensi in 1997, won again in the 2000 elections and was made District Chief Executive for the area between 2001 and 2005.

He however lost his seat in 2004, but reclaimed in 2008 as an independent candidate where he pitched camp with the NDC after the elections.

President Evans Atta Mills appointed him as deputy minister for Water Resources, Works and Housing and was removed from office in 2010.**