By Iddi Yire
Accra, July 03, GNA – President John Dramani Mahama in a significant demonstration of national gratitude on Friday, hosted a luncheon for the nation’s senior citizens, marking the climax of this year’s Republic Day Celebration, July 1.
The President paid tribute to the nation’s senior citizens for their lifetime contributions to national development.
The event, which was held at the Presidential Villa in Accra was attended by Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang.
The gathering brought together a distinguished group of senior citizens, including former government officials, academics, and other notable figures who have contributed to the nation’s development.
President Mahama said the annual gathering had become one of the most cherished events on the national calendar, because it affords them, as a nation, the opportunity to pause from the presence of governance and daily life, honour those who sacrifice their wisdom, their resilience and patriotism to lay the foundation upon which they continue to build our Republic.
He explained that ordinarily, the Luncheon would be held on the 1st of July, Republic Day, however, this year the Day was dedicated to Ghana’s historic second National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer, during which Christians and Muslims across the country gathered in churches and mosques to offer gratitude to the Almighty God for his abundant blessings upon the nation.
“The lives and service of our senior citizens, while we thank God for our nation, we must also thank those whose labour, commitment and sacrifice has brought Ghana this far,” he said.
“Today, therefore, is an extension of our National Thanksgiving. It is Thanksgiving express not only in prayer, but also in gratitude to the generation that builds modern day Ghana.”
The President said Republic Day was far more than a historical anniversary and that it reminds Ghanaians of the enduring ideals upon which their Republic stands – Freedom, Justice Equality, Patriotism, hard work and service to the country.
He said many of the senior citizens at the event lived through the final moments of the national history; saying “You witness our independence. You experience the birth of the Republic, the new Republic of Ghana”.
“You serve through difficult political transitions. You taught in our schools. You healed, are sick in our hospitals. You cultivated our farms. You defended our borders. You built our roots. You established our industries. You nurtured our industries and raised generations of patriotic Ghanaians.”
The President said many of the conveniences Ghanaians enjoy today exist because the senior citizens generation made the sacrifices without expecting any applause.
He noted that some of them worked in difficult conditions, while others accepted modest reward because they believed that serving Ghana was an honour in itself.
“The nation owes you a debt that can never be fully repaid. On behalf of the People of Ghana, I say thank you. I say, ayekoo?” President Mahama said.
“It is said that the measure of a generation is not merely what it inherits, but what it leaves behind. Your generation has left behind institutions. You’ve left values. You’ve left traditions and examples that continue to guide us. You taught us that integrity matters. You taught us that public office is a public trust. You demonstrated that discipline, honesty, humility and patriotism are indispensable ingredients for national development.
He said even in retirement, many of them continue to serve quietly as mentors, as counselors, community leaders and custodians of their collective memory.
Adding that their advice continues to shape families, communities and national institutions, and their wisdom remains one of Ghana’s greatest national treasures.
He assured them that as President, their voices and experience would continue to matter, and that their counsel would always be welcome.
He said his government was fully aware that the greatest way to honor a senior citizen was not merely by organizing ceremonies such as the Senior Citizen’s Day; declaring that the greatest tribute to the campaign was to build a Ghana that was worthy of their sacrifice.
The President said that was why they remained firmly committed to restoring economic stability, creating jobs, expanding opportunities for young people, strengthening healthcare, improving education, modernizing agriculture and accelerating industrial transformation.
On her part, Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang thanked their senior citizens for the roles they had played in the past and for those that they, continue to play in the life of the nation.
GNA
Edited by George-Ramsey Benamba