Founders’ Day must bring change in the Ghanaian

A nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for, so the saying goes.

Ghana has fared quite well in this regard. Over the years, it has bestowed national honours, such as Order of the Star of the Eagles of Ghana, Order of the Star of Ghana and Order of the Volta, on personalities who have distinguished themselves in their various fields of endeavour.

Ghana has also used occasions such as Farmers Day, Best Teacher Awards, among others, to honour and reward professionals for their contribution to the country’s socio-economic development.

And on the occasion of the maiden celebration of Founders’ Day yesterday, a day set aside to commemorate the sacrifices of our forebears who laid down their lives to found this nation, the Daily Graphic would like to wish the whole nation and its citizens well in all their endeavours.

But while the Daily Graphic is in a celebratory mood, it is very unfortunate to observe that the country is still engaged in a partisan debate over who the nation’s founders are.

Even though August 4 has been chosen for many reasons as the day for the commemoration of Founders’ Day, there is currently an ongoing debate as to whether the nation should have a founder or founders.

The Daily Graphic also notes the sharp division in opinions among sections of the people on the institution of the Founders’ Day. This is most worrying and we at the Daily Graphic will be happy if there is a national consensus on the reason to recognise our forbears who won for us such great heritage with their toil, sweat and blood.

On the occasion of the maiden celebration of Founders’ Day, the plea of the Daily Graphic is that we will have all shades of opinions coming together to celebrate this day in honour of our forefathers who, through their deeds, taught us to be bold and defend forever the cause of freedom and of right.

We thus associate ourselves with the message by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo that we must not see the day as meant for a certain political party or a section of society but rather unite behind the objective of the commemoration of the day to imbibe in us the spirit of patriotism, honesty and humility.

As we continue to celebrate this day in the coming years, we charge citizens to reflect on the lines of our National Anthem and forever cherish fearless honesty and resist oppressors’ rule with all their will and might. We also urge leaders at all levels to emulate the selfless lifestyles of our forebears and lead by example.

The Daily Graphic thinks in order to fully reap the benefits of the celebration, Founders’ Day should be marked with activities that will rekindle the people to resolve to put the country first in all that they do.

Finally, citizens must use the occasion to think of how they can leave the country better than they met it and refrain from corruption, selfishness, nepotism and all the negatives that draw the development of the country back.

It is only when these have been done that the institution of Founders’ Day will be relevant.

Happy Founders’ Day to all.