The former president, John Dramani Mahama, has dropped a fiery hint of making 1st July every year, which is the Republic Day, a public holiday once again. In a Facebook post on the Republic Day, which fell on Saturday last week, he wrote: “1st July is and shall remain Ghana’s Republic Day. It is our history! And it shall remain our history.”
The Republic Day used to be a public holiday until President Akufo-Addo on April 16, 2019 assented to the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, making the Republic Day of July 1 no longer a public holiday.
A statement issued and signed at the time by the Interior Minister, Amprose Dery reads: “the President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assented to the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act 986) on 16th April, 2019.
The Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act 986) states, Statutory Public Holidays and Commemorative days; Public Holidays are New Year’s Day -1st January; Constitution Day – 7th January; Independence Day – 6th March; Good Friday; Easter Monday; Eid-Al-Adha (Hajj); Eid-Al-Fitr (Ramadan); Workers’ Day – 1st May; Founders’ Day – 4th August; Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day – 21st September; Farmers Day – 1st Friday in December; Christmas Day – 25th December and Boxing Day – 26th December.
Commemorative Days were listed as African Union Day – 25th May and Republic Day – 1st July.
“Whilst the public holiday days would be observed as such, the commemorative days would only be observed but not to be observed as holidays. The general public is hereby informed accordingly”, Mr Ambrose Dery’s statement concluded.
Criticisms by the NDC
This decision by the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government became a subject of criticism from the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and Minority legislators in Parliament, who accused the government of trying to undermine certain historical figures.
The NDC in a statement marking the Republic Day in 2019 said the government’s move degraded the significance of the day. The statement said President Akufo-Addo “has deemed it fit to degrade the importance of this great day from a full public holiday intended to celebrate the efforts of our fore bearers in our collective struggle to affirm the benefits of equality, liberty, freedom and justice.”
The NDC, known for its support of Nkrumaist ideals, said the move was an attempt to distort Ghana’s history. As a result, the Minority MPs boycotted discussions on the Bill and its eventual passing.
Also, during the 2020 elections, the NDC in their campaign promised to return the Republic Day to a statutory holiday should it win power in 2020.
Though the NDC lost the 2020 elections, they are still holding on to their desire to restore 1st July as Ghana’s Republic Day and a holiday. This appears to have been reinforced by Mr John Mahama, albeit a subtle way.
Renewal of Commitment
The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in the Facebook post also advised that there is the need to “renew our commitment to building this flourishing Ghana we all dream of, with the bold colors of our flag as a constant reminder of our shared values and ideals.”
He imagined a Ghana where freedom and justice are not just empty words, but a powerful force, guiding every citizen towards a brighter future.
“A Ghana where every person, no matter their background or circumstance is protected and provided for, a Ghana where our institutions and courts are trusted to defend constitutional rights and deliver impartial justice. A Ghana where speaking up against injustice is not criminalized but allowed and encouraged.” Mr. Mahama added.
