President John Evans Atta Mills on Monday said as Head of State, he was not only in power for the party that elected him, but for all Ghanaians and called for total support for Government to realise its objective of building a better Ghanaian society.
He said the position of President was a privilege, with the thrust of a serious responsibility to raise the standard of living of the people.
“I’m privileged to be at the helm of affairs; I have a serious responsibility thrust on me. All I ask is wisdom, knowledge and understanding, to follow a course to raise the standard of living of the people,” President Mills said on Monday at a dinner organised in his honour, by the Ghana High Commission in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia and the African Union (AU).
President Mills has been in Ethiopia in the last few days attending the 16th Ordinary Session of the AU, which discussed greater African co-operation through integration and shared values.
The President, who had delivered a keynote address at the summit, reiterated that the only justification to be in power and leadership was to use the resources available to better the lot of the citizenry.
He assured the Ghanaian community in Ethiopia, who number about 70 and mostly highly skilled persons, to get their shoulders on board to help Government in its programmes.
“We need your support and encouragement, we sometime have to fall on you,” he said, adding “I’m your humble President, and not a member of a political party.”
President Mills assured the people that despite the challenges, Government’s “Better Ghana Agenda” was on course and there was light at the end of the tunnel.
He said Government remained focused to deliver on its promise of raising the quality of living.
Present at the dinner was former President Jerry John Rawlings, who attended the Summit as AU Special Representative to Somalia.
From Benjamin Mensah, GNA Correspondent in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia