We’ll restore 1st July as public holiday – NDC

The National Democratic Congress NDC has hinted of restoring the 1st July Republic Day celebration which was cancelled by the Akuffo Addo New Patriotic Party led government.

President Akuffo Addo few months ago assented to a new act of the Public Holiday Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 986) to prohibit the celebration of African Union Day(25th May) and Republic Day (1st July) as public holidays.

A move that was vehemently condemned by many Ghanaians including the NDC which has compelled them to assure Ghanaians of restoring it when voted back to power in 2020. Below is a statement issued and signed by its Director of communication

Statement:

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.