PUPILS PETITION AMERICAN EMBASSY (PAGE 11, JAN 22, 2010)

PUPILS from the Martin Luther King Junior School in Ashaiman have petitioned the Cultural Affairs Office of the American Embassy in Accra to launch an annual celebration of Rev. Dr Martin Luther King Jnr day in Ghana.
The pupils who were bearing placards, said the celebration would create the platform for remembering Dr Luther King for his good works of love, service to humanity and his support in the celebration of Ghana’s independence in 1957.
On behalf of his mates, a Junior High School 3 student of the school, Master Caleb Elikem Toxla, delivered the petition to the American Embassy, which was copied to the Ministry of Information, Ministry of Chieftaincy and Culture, National Commission for Civic Education, the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ghana and the Kofi Annan International Peace-Keeping and Training Centre among others .
The pupils and teachers went on float through some principal streets of Ashaiman displaying the placards to create awareness before they delivered the petition to the appropriate institutions.
Some of the inscriptions on the placards were ‘Honour Martin Luther King’ , ‘Celebrate Ghana’s heroes’, ‘Democracy is tolerance,’ ‘God bless Africa’ and ‘Africa must live in unity’.
The pupils noted that the celebration would promote and keep the dreams of Dr Luther King alive to strengthen African-American relations.
The pupils were of the view that the school had set the pace for the celebration of heroes to inspire the youth to aspire for greatness.
It suggested that major streets and national monuments should be named after great heroes to honour them.
The Director of the school, Mr Emmanuel Max-Voy called on all human rights organisations to support the cause.
Dr Luther King, who was assassinated on April 4, 1968, was an American clergyman, activist and prominent leader in the African –American civil rights movement who struggled for racial justice, anti-racism, human rights and peace.
The third Monday of every January has been set aside by the American Government to honour the life and achievements of Dr Luther King.