Let’s give punctuality national attention — Rotary Governor

The District Governor-Elect of the Rotary Club in Ghana, Mr Sam Worentetu, has underscored the need for punctuality to be given national attention to reverse its negative effects on the country.

He said the club for its part had decided to run a punctuality campaign in 2016-2017 to help promote the habit of promptness across the country.

Mr Worentetu made the appeal last Tuesday at the press launch of the 111th commemoration of the Rotary Club. The club was established in Chicago, United States of America, in 1905.

Media representatives were briefed on the origin of the club, its philosophy and the contributions it had made to socio-economic development globally.

The district governor explained that the campaign would dwell on the importance of being on time and added that the aim was to instil the habit of timekeeping and time management in the people, using Rotarians and their related activities for the purpose.

Rotary activities

Highlighting the activities of the Rotary Club, Mr Worentetu said it had pursued the eradication of polio globally.

“The club, with the support of the World Health Organisation (WHO), United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), Centre for Disease Control (CDC) of the US and several other organisations has reduced the number of polio endemic countries from 125 in 1985 to two at the close of 2015.”

“Polio cases worldwide have dropped from a high of 350,000 a year to less than 100,”  he said, adding that Rotary had spent over US$1.2 billion on the exercise so far.

Way forward

On the way forward, Mr Worentetu said Rotary was ready to support the development of peace and conflict prevention; disease prevention and treatment; water and sanitation; maternal and child health; basic education and literacy, as well as economic and community development.

He, therefore, entreated the media to bring to the attention of the Rotarian community, needs that could be addressed.

On the November general election, Mr Worentetu said the Rotary Club would play the role of an independent arbiter and provide a platform for calming tempers and the avoidance of intemperate language to ensure a peaceful exercise.

“I think it is often thought that development comes only after large doses of money are invested in the economy. Rotary believes that through advocacy, through attitudinal change, we can do a lot in improving the circumstances of the people in a community,” he added.