The National Democratic Congress (NDC) has indicated should it win power in 2020, it will return the Republic Day to a statutory holiday.
President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assented to the Public Holiday Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 986) in April which made Republic Day and AU Day as commemorative holidays while August 4 and January 7, Founders and Constitutional Days respectively would now be observed as statutory holidays.
The NDC accused government of trying to undermine certain historical figures and distort Ghana’s history.
The Minority in Parliament boycotted discussions on the Bill and its eventual passing.
In a statement marking the Republic Day, the NDC said the government’s move has degraded the significance of the day.
“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 forebearers in our collective struggle to affirm the benefits of equality, liberty, freedom and justice.”
“The NDC would want to assure all Ghanaians living everywhere that upon its assumption of office in January 2020, Republic Day will be accorded full recognition as one of the more important nation days in our history.”
The statement noted that making Republic Day a commemorative holiday has robbed Ghana’s gallant forebears of the historical credit and recognition they so richly deserve.
1st July 1960 marked the day Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah was sworn into office as first President of Ghana and proclaimed Republic Day.
The Day has come to be known as Senior Citizens’ Day; a day meant to recognise the efforts and contributions of senior citizens to modern Ghana.
Read the NDC’s full statement below:
REPUBLIC DAY WILL BE RESTORED AS A PUBLIC HOLIDAY
On the occasion of the 59th anniversary of the attainment of Republican status of Ghana, the National Democratic Congress wishes to salute every Ghanaian living everywhere.
When, through the instrumentality of our first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, this feat was achieved on 1st July 1960, it cemented the heroic efforts of the people of Ghana to attain full nationhood and from which Ghana emphasized her predominant role in the struggle to liberate the black race from the shackles of oppression and suppression.
Sadly today, the government of President Nana Addo-Danquah 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 forebears in our collective struggle to affirm the benefits of equality, liberty, freedom and justice, to a mere commemorative day in order to rob our gallant forbears the historical credit and recognition that they so richly deserve.
The National Democratic Congress has had occasion to criticize President Akufo-Addo’s attempts to rewrite the history of Ghana, downplaying the role of genuine patriots and placing his family and clan above all else.
The NDC would want to assure all Ghanaians living everywhere that upon its assumption of office in January 2021, Republic Day will be accorded full recognition as one of the more important national days in our history. Long live Ghana. Long live the struggle against historical revisionists.
ISSUED ON 1ST JULY, 2019
Signed
KAKRA ESSAMUAH
Director of Communications
