Madam Deputy Speaker, we indeed applaud and share in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana. Ghana, which is certainly one of the most stable democracies in Africa, has come a long way, and like South Africa, however, faces similar challenges such as poverty, unemployment, skills shortages, to name a few.
The realisation that our local supply of qualified persons is shipping off for opportunities in Europe and elsewhere is a harsh reality. We need to ask ourselves why. Why is the continent of Europe or other states a more attractive investment for our graduates? Our growth and development is dependent on our graduates, our skilled artisans and our people. The potential for Africa's greatest needs to be realised is invested in our people so that we may reap the benefits and grow a nation, so that we too can have the destiny of a bright future.
As a democracy, we too were victims of colonialism. We celebrate the freedom and liberty of our people, and congratulate Ghana on this success. Thank you. [Applause.]