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Mr. Ken Ofori-Atta, Minister of Finance has said that Ghana is blessed with abundant natural resources and that there was the need to utilize it for the comfort of the people through its right usage.

     “If we put the national interest before our personal needs, the country’s socio-economic circumstances would drastically improve.”

     Mr Ofori-Attah said this in Accra, as the main speaker at the Third Aliu Mahama Lectures at the National Theatre, Accra.

     He spoke on the topic: “Transforming Ghana Beyond Aid: How We Get There”.

     The Finance Minister said as a nation, “we have failed to ensure the comfort of our people through the right use of our resources”.

     The minister observed putting these resources to the right use, with the needed expertise and attitude, was crucial to the theme of his lecture, “Transforming Ghana Beyond Aid.”

     He said economic transformation was about people, adding that, the government’s goal was to enable everyone to live in dignity and freedom.

     Mr Ofori-Atta said the hard work being done by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, stemmed from his deep desire to transform the country.

     “As a people we should be quick to recognize the good will of leaders and be supportive of their vision, in order to ensure the country’s progress.

     We need to be clear in vision that is understandable and acceptable by the people”.

     He praised former Vice President Aliu Mahama, saying that, he added great value to the then Kufuor Presidency, adding that, the Vice President did not involve himself in any scandal during his tenure.

     The Minister said such was the attitude, needed to ensure the progress of a nation and worthy of emulation.

     He said when President Akufu Addo spoke about the country progressing beyond aid, what it meant was a “revolutionary change in the people, where we added value to our work ethics, our education, our service delivery and our raw materials, amongst other vital areas.

     Mr Ofori-Atta said it also meant a strong need to desist from, and bring an end to corruption of all forms.

     He said hard work, sacrifice, discipline, a strong sense of duty and commitment, the ability to sacrifice for a good cause, were some of the qualities required for success, saying that, “we will win if we all passionately protect the public purse.”

     He also noted that it was important as a people, to live in peace, unity and love, in order to ensure the good of all.

     Dr. Eric Osei Assibey, a Senior Lecturer at the University of Ghana, who chaired the occasion, said the theme of the lecture, “Transforming Ghana Beyond Aid,” reflected the mood of the nation, adding that, it was important that “we support our leadership to achieve that aim”.

     He observed that if Ghana should benefit from its resources then, “we need to own resources for us to transform and finance our own development”.