“GLORY to God in the highest; and on earth, peace and goodwill towards men” was the proclamation by the messenger of God on the occasion of the birth of Jesus Christ some 2,000 years ago.
Ever since then, the celebration of Christmas has become an annual event across the globe.
Jesus was born at a time when ignorance, superstition, greed, hatred and hypocrisy prevailed upon the land, while purity was forgotten and morality neglected. His mission, therefore, was to transform lives and, through that, the world.
Today, we are celebrating the birth of Jesus at a time when our dear nation has witnessed some growth and development over the 53 years of its existence as an independent entity. We have abandoned some of the cultural practices and customs which were inimical to human progress and affront to fundamental human rights.
We have not only built roads, hospitals, harbours, houses and schools but also developed our governance structures, expanded the frontiers of free speech, upheld the principles of the rule of law and deepened democracy generally.
The government, led by President John Evans Atta Mills, is on course to building a very strong and vibrant economy. Currently, inflation is single digit, the cedi has stabilised and lending rates have reduced. Additionally the STX housing scheme is expected to be rolled out next year to bring relief to our security services and workers. And, more important, the much-awaited commercial production of oil has come on stream to provide resources for national development and job opportunities for the people.
The result of these monumental achievements is that today Ghana has become the beacon of hope in Africa.
In spite of the progress made so far, we are, admittedly, confronted with challenges and difficulties which demand urgent attention and solutions. For example, in the area of education, children still study under trees, power supply is still not stable, there is a huge gap between the development of the north and that of the south, while unemployment is also very high.
Meanwhile, our national unity is sometimes undermined by polarisation along party lines, while almost every issue is politicised.
As we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Saviour who has brought hope to the dejected, inspiration to the despondent and peace and joy to the world, we need to remind ourselves that the occasion is not just a period for merry-making but an opportunity to promote unity, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace and love in our national discourse.
Let us cross over to 2011 with a renewed commitment to national development and devote our energies to activities which will change our destiny and build a solid foundation for posterity.
We should eschew insults, disrespect for our political leadership and intolerance of divergent opinions. There is the need for us to rally behind the national vision to make the country a better place to live in especially when President Mills has declared 2011 ‘a year of action’.
Indeed, the best gift that we can give ourselves and our neighbours is peace and goodwill to all men and women. But in all our celebrations, let us remember the less privileged because, as the Bible assures us in Isaiah 58:11, “We shall be like a watered garden, and like a spring or water whose waters fail not.”
Finally, the DAILY GRAPHIC takes this opportunity to wish our readers, partners and all Ghanaians a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.
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