President John Dramani Mahama has challenged Ghana’s young people to reject drugs, avoid shortcuts to success and embrace integrity, discipline and hard work as they help shape the country’s future.
Delivering an address at the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving on the theme, “Resetting Our Values to Build the Ghana We Want,” the President said the youth are not merely the leaders of tomorrow but are already playing a vital role in building the nation today.
“And to our young people, you are not merely the leaders of tomorrow. You are already shaping the Ghana of today. So dream boldly, acquire knowledge, develop new skills, reject shortcuts, lead lives of integrity, avoid drugs, believe in yourself, because your country believes in you,” he urged.
President Mahama stressed that Ghana’s future depends on a generation of responsible, disciplined and patriotic young people who are prepared to contribute positively to national development.
He noted that while the country has made encouraging progress in its economic recovery through fiscal discipline, prudent leadership and the resilience of the Ghanaian people, many young people are still searching for employment opportunities, making it necessary to sustain reforms that create jobs and inclusive growth.
The President said lasting national transformation cannot be achieved through government policies alone but requires a moral transformation driven by honesty, accountability, patriotism and responsible citizenship.
He called on teachers, parents, journalists, public servants and all citizens to uphold values that promote integrity and place the national interest above personal gain.
President Mahama also encouraged business leaders to continue investing and creating opportunities for young people, assuring them that government remains committed to creating an environment where enterprise can thrive.
He urged Ghanaians to reject corruption, intolerance and division, insisting that unity, discipline and service to the nation are essential to building a stronger and more prosperous Ghana.
The President concluded by calling on citizens to leave the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving with a renewed commitment to integrity, compassion, patriotism and service, saying the Ghana the country desires will be built through the daily actions of ordinary citizens who choose to do what is right.
