President John Dramani Mahama has unveiled a national vision for Ghana’s future, calling on citizens to commit to a year of transformative action as the nation counts down to its 70th Independence Anniversary.
“A vision of a Ghana where no child will go to bed hungry. A Ghana where education is accessible and empowering.
A Ghana where health care is affordable and accessible,” President Mahama declared, painting a picture of the “new Ghana” he envisions.
Delivering his address at the 69th Independence Day celebration in Accra yesterday on the theme: “Building Prosperity, Inspiring Hope”, the President looked beyond the current milestone to outline a comprehensive blueprint for the country’s 70th anniversary.
President Mahama emphasised that the upcoming 70th anniversary was not just a date to be marked on the calendar, but a deadline for tangible progress.
He urged citizens to use the coming year to reaffirm a collective mission, including building a nation with world-class infrastructure, digital connectivity from Aflao to Hamile, and an economy that produced what it consumed.
“We have stumbled and often felt disappointed in ourselves, but we have never given up,” President Mahama said, acknowledging the nation’s challenges while celebrating the resilient spirit of Ghanaians.
“Today, we celebrate how far we have come, and when we leave here tomorrow, we must commit ourselves to how far we will go,” he added.
Projections
The President said he had assented to the 24-hour Economy Authority Bill, now law, which would boost productivity and create thousands of new jobs across the manufacturing, logistics, and security sectors.
He also provided an update on the establishment of the Women’s Development Bank, currently in its final stages under the leadership of the Vice-President, Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, aimed at providing accessible financing to women-led enterprises.
The ceremony was attended by the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dr Honourable Terrance Drew, whom President Mahama welcomed as a symbol of the “historic reconnection between Ghana and our brothers and sisters in the Caribbean”.
Reaffirming Ghana’s leadership on the global stage, the President announced that later this month, the country would submit a motion to the United Nations to declare slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the “gravest crime against humanity”, a move he described as seeking “the justice and restitution that is long overdue”.
“As we approach the milestone of Ghana’s 70th anniversary next year, let us reaffirm our national vision,” he told the gathering.
“This vision is within reach, but it requires our collective efforts,” he insisted.
Charge for the future
President Mahama took time to honour the legacy of Ghana’s founding fathers and all leaders who had shaped the nation since independence 69 years ago.
He paid tribute to Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and the countless unsung heroes of the independence struggle, acknowledging that “every administration, regardless of its political inclination, has played its part in building the nation we all proudly call Ghana”.
He commended the maturity of Ghana’s democracy, indicating that the nation had learned “to compete without destroying, to disagree without hatred, and to transfer power peacefully”.
The President, however, also issued a stern warning against corruption, describing it as a cancer that eroded the nation’s foundation.
“Every cedi that is stolen from the public purse represents a classroom that is robbed of textbooks. It represents a hospital that will go without medicines,” President Mahama said.
“Under my leadership, we’re not just fighting corruption with words alone. We’re strengthening institutions, protecting anti-corruption agencies from political interference, and ensuring that no individual, regardless of their status or party, is above the law,” he added.
He called for a national culture of integrity and discipline, urging citizens to move beyond slogans and to demonstrate patriotism through everyday actions such as protecting public property and treating others with respect.
“We must place country above party, above tribe, and above personal interest. Ghana is bigger than any one of us,” he said.
Message to the youth
Recognising the frustrations and potential of Ghana’s young population, the President delivered a direct and encouraging message.
He acknowledged their challenges, but emphasised the unprecedented opportunities available to young people in the digital age.
“In your hands, a smartphone transforms into a classroom, a business platform, a creative studio, and a gateway to the global economy,” he said, highlighting government investments in digital infrastructure, entrepreneurship programmes, and education reform to bridge the gap between school and the world of work.
President Mahama added that “the future belongs to those who prepare for it”.
He congratulated outstanding students who received awards and won national competitions, describing them as “the promise of Ghana’s future”.
Concluding his address on a note of unity and hope, President Mahama called on every citizen to embrace the national mission.
“Wherever you are, whatever you do, do your part with excellence.
Do it for Ghana, do it for Africa, and do it for the generations yet unborn,” he urged.
“May God bless our homeland Ghana, and make our nation great and strong.
Long live Ghana and long live African unity,” he said to an ovation.
Source:
www.graphic.com.gh