The National Executive Committee of the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) has reminded the party’s supporters of activities marking the 30th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution. A statement recounting the revolution era which was signed by Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, General Secretary, said the theme for the celebration is ‘three decades of grassroot democracy: its relevance to current political dispensation’. “The celebration will be climaxed on Saturday December 31st with a route march, anniversary parade and wreath laying ceremony at the Revolutionary Square in Accra.” Below is the full statement issued by the party NDC MARKS 31ST DECEMBER REVOLUTION The National Executive Committee (NEC) of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) wishes to remind its numerous supporters that this year 2011, marks the 30th anniversary of the 31st December Revolution. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘three decades of grass root democracy: its relevance to current political dispensation’. The NDC celebrates the event annually to remind the nation of events that ushered Ghana into a path of socio-economic and political transformation. 31st December also reminds Ghanaians of the enormous sacrifices made by cadres led by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings in restoring respect and patriotism to rank and file of workers and the ordinary Ghanaian. The pre revolution era was characterized by a near collapse of the economy and breakdown of socio-political institutions. It was a period of lack of basic essentials and consumables caused by successive governments. The period also paved way for some citizens to engage in massive hoarding, smuggling and other cross-border illegal activities which had serious negative impact on the growth of the country’s economy. The Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC), progenitor of NDC brought a new sense of belonging and awareness creation, patriotism and nationalism culminating in the spirit of mobilization and grass root participation for national reconstruction and development. Ghana recaptured her economic glory as she began registering massive economic and social infrastructural improvement following the launch of the 31st December Revolution. It is worthy to note that Ghana’s economy which was -2 % before the revolution was transformed to 8% per capita GDP at the time when the first NDC administration was in power. Within the last three years, the second NDC-led administration, through prudent economic management has reduced inflation from 18.1 to 8.4 per cent, stabilized the Cedi against the major international currency, with the country’s economy growing at an appreciable rate of 13.5 per cent GDP. Indeed the country’s current growth rate in the economy is among the best in the world. As a result of the Self Help Electrification Project (SHEP) initiated by the PNDC, a large number of communities hitherto not connected to electricity had been connected to the National Electricity Grid during the NDC one administration, a feat being replicated by the current NDC government which has within three years increased access to electricity in the country by about 20 per cent. It is worthy to note that cocoa, one of Ghana’s main cash crops and mainstay of the economy had hit all time low in the country’s history, depreciating from 500,000 tons in the 1960s to132, 000 before the revolution. The onset of the revolution saw a restoration in the cocoa sector, through the implementation of programs and policies, including the Cocoa Evacuation and Rehabilitation Programs to revamp the sector. Under the evacuation program, huge tons of cocoa previously locked up in the bush across the country were evacuated to the ports for export. The Cocoa Rehabilitation Project was also embarked on in 1985 during which large acreages of cocoa farms were replanted by volunteers using high yielding seedlings to improve on the quality and quantity of cocoa yield throughout the country. Currently, Ghana’s cocoa production capacity has reached all time high of 1million tons. The NDC reiterates that, the party remains committed to the gains of the 31st December Revolution which has contributed immensely to good governance through sensitization and introduction of grass root mobilization and participation. The NEC of NDC therefore, calls on the party leadership and membership to rally round the founder, the President and the Cadre Corps to give a memorable commemoration. We urge regional, districts and constituency executives to evolve programs to mark the occasion. At the national level, a number of programs have been launched to mark the celebration. They include a call on the Founder of the NDC, Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings by representatives of the Cadre Corps, documentaries and radio discussions, medical outreach, commemoration lectures and presentation of citation to Cadres. The celebration will be climaxed on Saturday December 31st with a route march, anniversary parade and wreath laying ceremony at the Revolutionary Square in Accra. LONG LIVE 31ST DECEMBER REVOLUTION LONG LIVE NDC LONG LIVE GHANA. Sign – 27/12/11 Johnson Asiedu Nketiah General Secretary, NDC.