President Mahama honours predecessors - Kufuor, Akufo-Addo join 69th Independence celebration

In a display of national unity that transcended political divisions, President John Dramani Mahama yesterday extended an olive branch to every administration since Independence, as Ghana marked its 69th Independence Anniversary at the Jubilee House.

With former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Akufo-Addo seated on the dais, President Mahama delivered a deliberate, inclusive roll call of all leaders who had governed the nation, declaring that the country's democratic journey had been a collective effort.

"Today, we honour the memory of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and all others who have led this country after him," President Mahama said.

He added that "all of them have been a part of our history and have brought us to this moment in our lives, from Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia to J.A. Ankrah, Akwasi Afrifa, I.K. Acheampong, General Akuffo, Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, John Evans Atta Mills and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

"Every administration, regardless of its political inclination, has played its part in building the nation we all proudly call Ghana,” the President said.

The rare gathering of three living former presidents — Kufuor, Akufo-Addo and the current President — within the intimate setting of the Jubilee House forecourt provided a striking visual presence of the President's message.

It was an image that spoke to the maturity of Ghana's democracy, a point the President himself emphasised.

"Our democracy has endured because we've learned to compete without destroying, to disagree without hatred, and to transfer power peacefully, which is evidence of the maturity and the wisdom of the Ghanaian people," he said. 

Celebration

For the second consecutive year, the heartbeat of Ghana’s Independence Day celebration shifted from the vast expanse of the Black Star Square to the seat of the nation’s government.

 Terrance Michael Drew (right), Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, in a discussion with President John Dramani Mahama

The forecourt of the Jubilee House provided an intimate yet no less significant setting for the 69th Independence Anniversary, as President Mahama delivered his address to the nation on a theme of reflection and renewal.

In a move that has become a hallmark of the Mahama administration’s approach to statecraft, the celebration was scaled down and relocated from the traditional Independence Square.

Citing fiscal prudence and a desire to reduce the financial burden of the annual event, the government kept the festivities within the precincts of the presidency, a decision that lent the occasion a more focused and deliberate atmosphere.

Gathering

Prominently seated on the dais was the First Lady, Lordina Dramani Mahama, who arrived with the President and graciously acknowledged the crowd.

Some traditional leaders and guests at the Jubilee House

The Vice-President, Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, was seated close by while the Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, and the Chief Justice, Justice Baffoe Bonnie, sat close to her. 

The gathering also had a distinguished international flavour, with the presence of the Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Michael Drew.

Also adding to the political weight of the occasion was the National Chairman of the ruling National Democratic Congress, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, whose inclusion highlighted the intersection of party leadership and state ceremony.

The gathering also had schoolchildren and Ghanaians from all walks of life. 

Theme

Delivering his address on the theme: "Building Prosperity, Inspiring Hope", President Mahama described the anniversary as a covenant between the government and the governed.

 Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang (right), Vice-President, in a chat with Lordina Mahama, the First Lady 

"This theme is more than just ceremonial," he said, and added that "it represents a covenant between the government and the governed, a solemn promise that every disability, every decision we make, and every policy we implement must foster prosperity and renew hope for every Ghanaian".

Reflecting on his mandate, the President said: "My fellow citizens, when I took office, you granted me a clear mandate to reset our nation, Ghana.

Resetting Ghana goes beyond simply managing our issues. It involves transforming how we govern, how we produce, and how we share the fruits of our prosperity.

Over the past year, we've taken decisive steps to stabilise our economy and restore investor confidence".

President Mahama further used the occasion to speak directly to ordinary Ghanaians, six days after delivering the State of the Nation Address to Parliament.

"Today, I speak not only to our Parliament, but to every Ghanaian.

"The farmer in the northern Savannah, the trader in the Makola markets, the teachers in our classrooms, the nurses in our hospitals and clinics, the young entrepreneur with a smartphone in his hand, and every Ghanaian, both at home and in the diaspora.

This is our story. This is our moment," he said.

Slavery

President Mahama announced that Ghana would formally submit a motion to the United Nations declaring slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity, describing the move as a long-overdue step towards justice and restitution.

President John Mahama (middle) with Christian Tetteh Yohuno (right), Inspector General of Police, and Lieutenant General William Agyapong, Chief of Defence Staff

"The dungeons of the Cape Coast and Elmina castles remind us of the dark chapters of history when millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Middle Passage to the so-called New World.

Yet, from that tragedy arose the remarkable resilience, creativity, and cultural brilliance that continue to influence the world," he said.

President Mahama revealed that later this month, Ghana would take the motion to the United Nations.

"This motion will represent the justice and restitution that is long overdue. And Ghana, the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence, will once again lead the global call for dignity and restoration," the President added.

Proceedings

The day’s proceedings began early in the forecourt of the Jubilee House.

By 8 a.m., guests were getting seated, the limited space creating a sense of closeness among the attendees.

Shortly after, the nation’s top Service Commanders arrived in their ceremonial regalia, followed by the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Inspector General of Police.

The diplomatic corps, ministers of state, and Members of Parliament made their way through the security cordon, with the former Presidents and their spouses, alongside former First and Second Ladies, arriving just before 8:30 a.m.

The order of precedence continued with the arrival of the Chairman of the Council of State, the Chief Justice, and the Speaker of Parliament, who took their places on the dais.

At 8:50 a.m., the disciplined ranks of the security contingents, drawn from the Armed Forces, Police, Prisons, Fire, and Immigration services, marched onto the forecourt, their boots striking the tarmac in unison.

The massed bands, positioned strategically, provided a stirring soundtrack as the Colour Party marched on with solemn precision.

The arrival of the Vice-President, Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, was followed shortly by the moment the assembly had gathered for.

At exactly 9 a.m., the presidential motorcade swept into the precincts.

President Mahama, accompanied by his wife, Lordina, stepped out to a formal presidential salute, taking his position at the centre of the dais.

The formalities proceeded with the weight of tradition.

The National Pledge was recited, a promise renewed by the youth of the nation. 

In a display of Ghana's cherished religious tolerance, a traditional priest, an Imam, and a Christian clergyman offered prayers for the nation, seeking divine guidance for peace, unity and prosperity.

President Mahama then proceeded to inspect the parade, walking calmly along the lines of immaculate personnel before returning to the dais to light the Perpetual Flame, a symbolic link to the enduring spirit of the nation's founders.

The military precision then gave way to cultural vibrancy.

The mass bands delivered a dynamic display, followed by a poignant recital of patriotic songs and poetry by students from senior high schools.

A colourful cultural performance by schoolchildren, bursting with energy and traditional flair, provided a joyful interlude.

As the parade formed up for the Advance in Review Order, a 21-gun salute echoed across the grounds, its thunderous report a dramatic prelude to the National Anthem.

A unique and powerful tradition, the Drum Appellation, followed in a rhythmic and poetic roll-call honouring the President’s lineage and virtues, delivered by traditional drummers.

Following the President's speech, the air was filled with "The Yell", a spirited cheer led by the security personnel, before a final National Salute brought the formal proceedings to a close by 11 a.m.

As the Presidential party departed, the massed bands struck up a final march.

The contingent then filed off the forecourt, their duty complete.

— See more pictures on page 24