President John Dramani Mahama has declared that July 1, Ghana’s Republic Day, will once again be observed as a statutory public holiday, and formally designated as the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, aimed at uniting the nation in spiritual reflection and gratitude.
Speaking at the 2025 Supernatural Empowerment Summit held on May 4 at Perez Chapel in Accra, President Mahama said the reinstated holiday not only commemorates Ghana’s full transition into a republic but also marks what he described as the true birth of the nation.
“And as I’ve declared, on 1st July, which is our Republic Day—our Republic Day is actually Ghana’s birthday because in 1957, even though we became independent, we were a dominion of the British Empire,” he said in a Graphic Online report. “It was on 1st July that we became a republic and cut ties with the British Empire. So on that day that the true Ghana was born, I’ve said we must give thanks to the Almighty God. And so we’re restoring the holiday to that day.”
To coordinate this new national observance, Mahama announced the creation of a task force that will plan a nationwide, interfaith celebration involving both Christian and Muslim communities.
“As the bishop said, on that day we will take a rest and we’ll thank and pray to God for giving us our country Ghana,” he added, reinforcing the day’s purpose as a moment for collective spiritual reflection.
The announcement expands on a prior declaration made on April 26, during the inauguration of a national planning committee chaired by Elvis Afriyie Ankrah. There, the president underscored Ghana’s longstanding religious tolerance as a cornerstone of national identity.
“One of Ghana’s greatest blessings is the harmony with which we practice our diverse faiths,” Mahama said. “Christians, Muslims and traditionalists—we worship differently but we work together as one people. This is a national treasure that we must never take for granted.”
Referencing verses from both the Qur’an (Sura Al-Hujurat 49:13) and the Bible (Romans 12:18), Mahama emphasized that the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving would also serve as a platform for strengthening peaceful coexistence and national unity.
The planning committee, led by Ankrah, pledged to make the event inclusive and nationally resonant.
“We assure you, Mr President, and the good people of Ghana that we will discharge our duties with diligence and dedication,” he said. “This event is about nurturing a spiritual culture of gratitude, fostering unity in diversity, and elevating our national consciousness to appreciate the hand of God in the affairs of our country.”
To achieve that, Ankrah added that the committee would embark on extensive nationwide consultations.
“We will consult broadly, we will engage inclusively, we will bring everybody on board because the National Day of Thanksgiving belongs to all of us,” he affirmed.
In closing, he expressed optimism that Ghana’s initiative could ripple across borders.
“It is our hope and prayer that the work we do will not only make Ghana proud but will serve as inspiration to other nations—that the people who acknowledge God, give thanks to Him, and live in unity can achieve the impossible,” Ankrah concluded.
