Former President John Dramani Mahama has advised Ghanaians to eschew greed and divisiveness as the country marks 66 years of Independence from Colonial rule.
The former President urged Ghanaians including members of the government to acknowledge the common but differentiated roles and responsibilities in order to deliver their best service to “build the Ghana we want together”.
“Happy and a reflective 66th Independence Day to us all. We can, obviously, make our independence from colonial rule count if we put our minds to the task and eschew greed and divisiveness in all sectors of our national life.”
John Dramani Mahama
Mr Mahama equally emphasized that political leadership has a greater responsibility towards making Ghana great and strong again.
Earlier, the former President revealed he will not be part of the Independence Day anniversary in Ho today, Monday, March 6. Mr Mahama accused the organizers of the event of turning the occasion into a political party jamboree where New Patriotic Party (NPP) supporters are bussed to cheer up their leaders.
Mr Mahama stated that the Independence Day celebration is a national solemn day and should not be hijacked by a political party.
“… I have stopped going to Independence day because it has become a party jamboree. I went to Tamale and they told GBC to take the camera off me, they bussed their supporters in and filled the whole stadium. When I got into the stadium the place was quiet, I went and sat, they gave me some corner somewhere, I went and sat there and they occupied the dais. When any of them came [the supporters] shouted.”
John Dramani Mahama
Mr Mahama stated that he doesn’t “want to be part of this party jamboree”, as it is seemingly the case with the organisation of the event. He emphasized that Independence Day is a “solemn national celebration” that is celebrated at Independence Square and everybody could come.
However, he iterated that the NPP has bussed its supporters to the event decorated in party flags and are wearing party T-Shirts – an occasion, he expressed, he doesn’t want to be a part of.
“Nkrumah got us independence, I am an Nkrumahist, I will attend an Independence Day anniversary any day if it is not hijacked by one party, it is a national day for all of us, so I am not going to be there because I don’t want to be part of an NPP Jamboree. You watch what will happen, they will bus their people there and occupy the whole place.”
John Dramani Mahama
Celebrating Independence Day
Meanwhile, the General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Nana Yaa Jantuah, has equally urged Ghanaians to boycott the Independence Day celebration, when at 66 years, the country cannot buy vaccines for children, and are currently at the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
She further demanded the government to tell Ghanaians the amount of money spent on refurbishing the Adaklu Sports stadium.
“What kind of independence do we have when Ghana is going back to her protegee? Today should be a day of sober reflection instead of funfair. Why is it that today that we don’t have money, you are spending little to refurbish the stadium for Independence Day celebration?”
Nana Yaa Jantuah
Ms Jantuah emphasized that the celebration should be boycotted, whiles the people who were affected by storms and tidal waves in that same region have not been taken care of. She noted that this is not a good year for celebration considering the current social and economic circumstances of Ghana.
Nana Yaa Jantuah explained that instead of the celebration, the government should rather engage stakeholders such as GUTA, GPRTU, and others to brainstorm on how Ghana can be brought out of the current economic crises.
