Today marks Republic Day
Today marks Ghana’s 56th Republic Day — the day in 1960 when the British monarch ceased to be Ghana’s Head of State.
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Apart from being a statutory public holiday, the day will be used to honour senior citizens who have played momentous roles in the struggle for sovereignty and in the nation-building process.
Attaining Republican status was an event of profound historical and political significance.
The feat implied that Ghana had the freedom to draw its own Constitution and elect a President who, with the Cabinet, could initiate programmes for the well-being of the people.
The first Republican Constitution was crafted in 1960, ushering in the first Republic.
Since then, the country has been managed by both civilian and military rulers, but it still faces many challenges, including unemployment, diseases, poverty, chieftaincy disputes and illiteracy.
Example for Africa
After becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence on March 6, 1957, Ghana’s political freedom inspired the liberation of many African countries from colonial rule.
Three years after gaining political independence, the country totally weaned itself off Britain.
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Prime Minister Dr Kwame Nkrumah was then sworn in as the first President of the country after leading the Convention People’s Party (CPP) to win the general election.
The First Republic, which came into being in 1960, was overthrown in a military coup in 1966 after which the National Liberation Council junta held power until 1969 when it restored civilian rule, with Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia as the Prime Minister.
But the Second Republic survived for less than three years, as the military overthrew Busia’s government in 1972 and held sway until 1979 when it restored civilian rule.
After leading the People’s National Party (PNP) to win the 1979 general election, Dr Hilla Limann became the President of the Third Republic of Ghana, but his administration was truncated on December 31, 1981 by some officers of the military led by Flt Lt Jerry John Rawlings.
Flt Lt Rawlings led the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to rule the country for 11 years before transitioning into a civilian President to give birth to the Fourth Republic.
Since the exit of former President, Rawlings from office in 2001, the Fourth Republic has seen former John Agyekum Kufuor and the late President John Evans Atta Mills.
The sitting President, John Dramani Mahama, is the Fourth President of the Fourth Republic.