I saw this flyer more than two weeks ago, but was not sure if it was the official flyer for the declared National Day of Prayer on July 1, 2025, until the state television GTV Ghana just posted it. This confirms that it is indeed the official poster for the event.
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First of all, why use July 1—the Republic Day—for this National Day of Prayer and not another day if it’s that important? We were all worried and disturbed when President Akufo-Addo scrapped it in an attempt to rewrite our history, but we were happy when President Mahama came to restore it.
What is the significance of July 1 – The Republic Day of Ghana?
The declaration of Ghana as a republic on July 1, 1960, was a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward full sovereignty and self-governance. This moment marked Ghana’s transition from a constitutional monarchy, where the British monarch was the ceremonial head of state, to a republic with Ghana’s President as the head of state.
Ghana, previously the Gold Coast, gained independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957, becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to achieve this feat. However, it remained a member of the British Commonwealth, with Queen Elizabeth II as the ceremonial head of state.
With the above background, it is therefore very important that the nation and its citizens observe and celebrate this day, and any attempt to dilute or scrap it, like the then President Akufo-Addo did, will change our historical narrative.
Why the National Day of Prayer?
Maybe, the idea behind it is to thank our supreme being for how far he has brought us. However, it cannot be right to choose the Republic Day for this exercise. That will dilute and change the significance of the Republic Day.
Now, what is very worrying to me is that it appears the state is using the Republic Day to institutionalize two religions in Ghana – Christianity and Islam just like the way President Akufo-Addo used US$58m of state funds to dig the most expensive hold in the world in the name of building a National Cathedral.
On this flyer, you will see Cardinal Appiah Turkson, who appears to represent the Christians, the National Chief Imam His Eminence Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, who appears to represent Muslims, and President John Dramani Mahama, who appears to represent the State, leaving out other religions and especially African Traditional Religion.
This continuous act of religious discrimination, in which the state of Ghana appears to be one of the main actors, must be condemned and stopped. Ghana, we are told, is a secular state, and same must reflect in our practices and laws.
The National Day of Prayer must be observed without giving prominence to any particular religion in Ghana and must be separated from the July 1, Republic Day.
Efo Korsi Senyo
Pan-Africanist
