WELCOME, PROMISING 2008

TODAY, humankind has ushered in the New Year, 2008, an event which comes with both high hopes and uncertainty over what the year holds for us.
As should be expected, all and sundry look forward to good things happening all over the world. We also expect that the New Year will mark a drastic reduction in all the troubles in the world — natural disasters, wars, terrorism, famine, pestilence, etc.
For us in Ghana, 2008 is bound to go down as one of the most momentous years in the post-colonial history of the country, probably surpassed only by March 6, 1957, the year in which the country won its independence.
From all indications, 2008 is going to be as exciting as possible and we at the DAILY GRAPHIC call on Ghanaians of all social hue, all religious persuasions and political affiliations to share in the excitement in a positive way.
In less than three weeks, Ghana will host the rest of Africa and the world in the Ghana 2008 soccer fiesta, during which 16 top African soccer nations will vie for the ultimate prize in football on the continent. Apart from the attention that the tournament will bring on the country, we also stand the chance of boosting our tourism, since everybody who comes here for the tournament — supporters, officials, media men and women, players — would want to savour the famed Ghanaian hospitality and culture.
Certainly the hospitality industry stands to be the greatest beneficiary of the good things that will come with the hosting of the Ghana 2008 tournament, but the ripple effect will be felt in other sectors.
In April, there will be the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) meeting in Accra, where Presidents and heads of government of United Nations member countries will determine the future of world trade, development and co-operation.
Obviously, the most significant event of the year 2008 will be the elections in December. We expect the parties to put up one of the most competitive struggles for the leadership of the country.
If the congresses of the various parties to elect their flag bearers for the elections are anything to go by, then the electioneering will not be child’s play.
What we pray for is that our political leaders will raise issues and relegate personal attacks and smear campaigning to the background.
It is the belief of the DAILY GRAPHIC that the Ghanaian electorate are very discerning and so they cannot be taken for granted.
Consequently, any political party which makes insults, dirty tricks and chicanery its stock in trade will find, rather too late, that the electorate will vote against it, meaning it is not fit to lead the country.
We expect good quality leadership for the country, particularly leadership that will look for the solutions to the problems of unemployment, sanitation, the springing up of squatters quarters in our cities and towns and improved living conditions for our people through the payment of better wages and salaries to workers.
The DAILY GRAPHIC is sure of one thing — that it will demand from the parties how they are going to solve those problems, how they are going to raise the money to fund development activities through taxation, how they are going to create jobs, and how they are going to address the dichotomy between rural and urban Ghana.
We shall not accept empty promises; practical and pragmatic policies capable of transforming the macro-economic indices into improved living conditions for the people are what we expect from those who will come and solicit for our votes.
May the new year bring us peace, unity and progress.
A very Happy New Year to you all!