https://www.graphic.com.gh/news/politics/44th-anniversary-of-31st-december-revolution-marked-at-ada.html
Published articles by BENJAMIN XORNAM GLOVER, Journalist @ GRAPHIC COMMUNICATIONS GROUP LTD
The Member of Parliament for Klottey Korle, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has called on Ghanaians to place national interest above parochial considerations and recommit to the principles of integrity, accountability, and selfless service.
The anniversary celebration, held in Ada in the Greater Accra Region on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, was held under the theme “Consolidating the Reset Agenda: Reflections on the Gains of the 31st December Revolution.”
Addressing the gathering of supporters of the National Democratic Congress and cadres of the revolution, Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings stressed that neither the June 4 nor the 31st December uprisings occurred in a vacuum, and urged that the historical circumstances and sacrifices that shaped those moments be truthfully conveyed to younger generations.
She stressed the collective spirit and solidarity forged by the revolution emphasising that the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) era was sustained not by the military alone but through the inclusive participation of civilians across the country, including academics, professionals, farmers and fisherfolk.
“The ten-year history of the PNDC did not happen on the backs of military people alone, It was the inclusivity of every Ghanaian that made it possible and laid the strong foundation upon which our Fourth Republic now stands" she said
Resilience
According to her, the resilience Ghana enjoys today was a result of the commitment and sacrifices of those who contributed to the revolutionary period, which enabled the country to withstand difficult phases in its democratic journey.
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings warned against arrogance of power and complacency, particularly in the context of growing instability in the ECOWAS sub-region and urged leaders and citizens alike to view incumbency as a privilege to serve rather than an entitlement, stressing the need for governance that is free from corruption, nepotism, marginalisation and ethnic discrimination.
This country can only survive if we do it together with dignity, respect and timeless principles of integrity, transparency, accountability and probity,” she said.
She underscored the need for a national moral reset, arguing that lowering standards should not be accepted as normal. While acknowledging the monetisation challenges within democratic systems, she urged citizens to defend values that cannot be bought and to resist practices that weaken democratic consolidation.
Using an aviation analogy, she called for continuous self-reflection and course correction in governance, stressing that mistakes must be addressed early to prevent long-term damage.
Decentralisation
Dr. Agyeman-Rawlings also highlighted the importance of decentralisation, urging Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives to effectively implement national policies at the grassroots level, and cautioned against deep partisan divisions that could undermine development.
She reminded public office holders, whether elected or appointed, that they were custodians of the power of the people and must serve with humility, integrity and a strong sense of responsibility.
Touching on education, healthcare, road safety and environmental protection, she called for greater investment in teachers, completion of stalled school projects, discipline in educational institutions and collective responsibility in raising children.
She warned that Ghana’s natural resources would be meaningless without clean water, safe food and a protected environment, urging citizens to act as custodians of the land and water for future generations.
She also called for decency in politics, rejection of sycophancy and renewed commitment to national unity, saying the commemoration was about Ghana’s legacy and the future of the next generation.
"The revolutionary spirit must continue to live in us,” she said.
The General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Fiifi Fiavi Kwetey, cautioned party members against sycophancy and arrogance of power, urging them to remain faithful to the founding ideals of the 31st December Revolution.
Mr. Kwetey reflected on the party’s resilience following its defeat in the 2016 general elections, a period he described as one when many believed the NDC had reached its end. He likened the moment to the aftermath of the party’s loss of power in 2000, when critics similarly predicted its collapse.
He attributed the endurance of the NDC to the revolutionary spirit ignited 44 years ago, stressing that the 31st December Revolution was not about individual ambition but a collective movement to serve the national interest.
"There is a spirit that holds this party together — a never-say-die spirit. No matter how dark it becomes, that spirit always finds a way to rise again.” he said
He recalled that in the early days of the revolution, the late Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings discouraged the display of his portraits in public offices, insisting that the revolution was about the people rather than personal glorification.
Quoting Rawlings, he said the ultimate aim was to build a system so resilient that even a corrupt leader would be constrained by the vigilance of the people.
“That is the bedrock of the revolution — a spirit that rejects sycophancy, rejects bootlicking and places the welfare of the people above all else,” he said.
The NDC General Secretary expressed concern about what he described as the growing culture of sycophancy within the party, warning that blind praise of leaders for personal gain undermines democratic values and the integrity of the party
“You don’t love this country or this party if all you do is sing praises in the hope of personal benefit,” he cautioned.
Touching on the party’s return to power, Mr. Kwetey said the overwhelming mandate given to the NDC by Ghanaians in the last general elections including a strong parliamentary majority, was beyond human expectation and should be met with humility and gratitude.
He urged party members serving in government to remain disciplined and avoid scandals, warning that misconduct would not be tolerated.
“To whom much is given, much is expected,” he said, adding that the NDC must continue to govern in a manner that justifies the trust placed in it by the people.
He called on NDC members party to place Ghana and the NDC above individual ambition, remain humble in victory and stay committed to the revolutionary principles that have sustained the party.
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The Tema Metropolitan Assembly (TMA) has disbursed a total of GH¢207,700 from the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) Disability Allocation to support 33 Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) in the metropolis.
The Tema Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE), Ebi Bright, who presented the items and cash support at a ceremony on Tuesday [December 30, 2025] said the intervention, sourced from the statutory three per cent allocation of the Common Fund, was intended to improve the socio-economic well-being of PWDs through income-generating activities, educational assistance, and medical support.
Ms. Bright expressed appreciation to beneficiaries for their cooperation over the years, noting that although more than 110 applications were received from various communities within the metropolis, limited funding made it possible to support only 33 applicants during the current disbursement.
“Because the fund is inadequate, only a few beneficiaries can be considered at a time. However, be assured that every qualified applicant will eventually have their turn,” she assured.
The MCE outlined the components of the support package as follows: educational support, GH¢11,000, medical support and assistive devices: GH¢5,000, items for income-generating activities: GH¢120,000; cash support for start-ups and other activities: GH¢58,200, and deep freezers for five beneficiaries: GH¢2,500.
Additional institutional support included GH¢7,000 to the Tema Metro Association of the Deaf and GH¢6,000 to the Tema Metro Blind Union.
Items distributed included five deep freezers, two knitting machines, and one laptop. Others are five gallons of cooking oil, four gallons of palm oil, nine 25-kilogram bags of rice, 30 large bags of charcoal, five large bags of corn dough, four large bags of cassava dough, six 25-kilogram bags of brown rice, one bag of sugar, two large bags of beans, as well as bales of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing distributed to 14 beneficiaries to boost their small-scale businesses.
Caution against misuse
Ms. Bright cautioned beneficiaries against selling the items or diverting cash support from its intended purpose, stressing that the programme was designed to promote self-reliance and economic empowerment.
She announced that a monitoring team would be deployed to assess the impact of the support on beneficiaries’ livelihoods, adding that the Assembly would continue to provide guidance to ensure sustainability.
Committee’s Assessment
The Tema Metropolitan Director of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, Robert Mensah Gbley, said the programme focuses on empowering PWDs in vocational skills development, medical care and education.
He revealed that past monitoring exercises showed mixed results, with some beneficiaries productively using the support, while others either left items unused or sold them.
“Those who sell the items or misuse the support will not be considered for future assistance,” he warned.
Chairman of the Disability Fund Management Committee
National Perspective
Acting National Coordinator, National Council for Persons with Disabilities, Joshua Adi, commended the current government for rolling a number of policies and initiatives aimed at ensuring total inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
He cited free tertiary education for persons with disabilities as one of the key interventions, explaining that PWDs who gain admission into tertiary institutions were exempted from paying tuition fees. He also mentioned the ongoing review of the Persons with Disabilities Act, which seeks to promote the full inclusion of PWDs in all aspects of national life.
Mr. Adi further disclosed that the Common Fund allocation for persons with disabilities has been increased from three per cent to five per cent, a move expected to significantly expand coverage and support more beneficiaries nationwide.
According to him, these interventions were designed to ensure that persons with disabilities lived dignified and productive lives, while contributing meaningfully to national development.
“No nation can grow and develop without persons with disabilities. For Ghana to achieve full growth, persons with disabilities must contribute their quota to GDP growth,” he said.
He urged beneficiaries to make effective use of the items and equipment received to engage in viable economic activities including trading, tailoring and graphic design.
Mr. Adi added that productive use of the support would not only improve individual livelihoods but also promote job creation, inclusion and the government’s 24-hour economy agenda, enabling beneficiaries to earn income continuously while contributing to the broader economy.
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The Tema Regional Police Command on Monday thwarted an armed robbery attempt at Afienya-Mataheko, resulting in the death of four suspected robbers.
At a press briefing on Tuesday [Dec 30, 2025], the Head of Public Affairs of the Tema Regional Police Command, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dede Dzakpasu, said the operation formed part of sustained efforts to dismantle a notorious robbery gang of about 15 members that has been terrorising Tema and its environs over the years.
ASP Dzakpasu said that on December 27, 2025, the police received intelligence that a group of ex-convicts were planning to carry out armed robbery attacks in the metropolis.
Based on the information, officers were deployed to the area and placed on surveillance.
She said in the early hours of December 29, at about 1:00 a.m., four suspects were spotted attempting to gain entry into a residential property at Afienya-Mataheko.
According to her, the suspects opened fire upon seeing the police, leading to an exchange of gunfire.
ASP Dzakpasu said three of the suspects, identified as Kwabena Azuwebi, alias Lastman, Yaro Bawku, and Faisal, were taken to the Police Hospital but were pronounced dead on arrival.
She added that the fourth suspect, Kassim Hussein, initially escaped after sustaining gunshot wounds but was later arrested.
"It must be noted that the deceased robbers, Kwabena Azuwebi alias Lastman, Yaro Bawku, Faisal, and Kassim Hussein, have all been involved in a series of robberies within the region and have all been on the Police wanted list for their involvement in several robberies. It would be recalled that the deceased suspect, Kwabena Azuwebi, was recently granted a court bail in a robbery case after a long remand," she said.
Police recovered an AK-47 rifle, a Taurus pistol loaded with six rounds of ammunition, two cutlasses, and two Royal motorbikes, one unregistered and the other bearing registration number M-25-GT-4243, believed to have been used by the suspects.
ASP Dzakpasu said all the exhibits had been retained by the police to aid further investigations.
She said the bodies of the deceased suspects had been deposited at the Police Hospital Mortuary pending autopsy, while investigations continued to identify possible accomplices and establish links to other criminal activities
Present at the press briefing were senior police officers including Chief Superintendent Ferdinand Amengor, Tema Metro Divisional Commander; Superintendent Kwasi Kwarteng, Tema Regional Crime Officer; Chief Superintendent Isaac Forson, Tema Community One District Commander; DSP Gerhard Ekey, Tema Newtown District Commander; ASP Mark Yeboah, Tema Community Two District Commander; ASP Frances Martey, Tema Community Two District Crime Officer, and ASP Joseph Kyei-Mensah, FPU Commander.
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