By Michael Foli Jackidy
Ho (V/R), July 01, GNA – Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, has called on Ghanaians to embrace integrity, discipline and patriotism as the country pursues national renewal, saying the future of Ghana depends not only on government policies but also on the values and conduct of its citizens.
Addressing the Volta Regional celebration of the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Day in Ho on Wednesday on the theme, “Resetting Our Values to Build the Ghana We Want,” Mr Gunu expressed the Government’s sympathy to victims of recent floods that affected parts of the Volta Region.
He disclosed that at least 10 districts had been affected by the heavy rains, resulting in the destruction of homes and other properties.
“I convey the sympathy of His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama and the Government to all those who have lost properties through the floods. Climate change is real, but we also have a responsibility to protect our environment by avoiding practices that contribute to flooding,” he said.
The Regional Minister urged citizens to adopt environmentally responsible behaviours, particularly proper waste disposal, to reduce the devastating effects of flooding on communities.
Mr Gunu said the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Day offered Ghanaians an opportunity not only to thank God for His blessings but also to reflect on the moral values required to build a peaceful, prosperous and united nation.
He explained that resetting national values meant choosing integrity over corruption, unity over division and hard work over shortcuts, adding that the Ghana citizens desired would only emerge when individuals committed themselves to becoming responsible and patriotic citizens.
Mr Gunu said national healing required humility, repentance and obedience to God, stressing that prayer alone was insufficient without a corresponding commitment to righteous living.
According to him, patriotism should not merely be expressed through words but demonstrated by protecting public property, obeying the laws of the country, rejecting corruption, and serving as positive role models for future generations.
He said Government remained committed to improving the living conditions of citizens through various social and economic interventions, including the Ghana Medical Trust Fund (MahamaCare) programme, the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative, the Big Push infrastructure programme and the Free Primary Healthcare policy.
Mr Gunu noted that while the government continued to implement policies to improve livelihoods, citizens also had a responsibility to uphold values that would support national development and social cohesion.
He called on politicians, religious leaders, traditional authorities, civil servants and all citizens to work together in rebuilding Ghana based on shared values of accountability, honesty and mutual respect.
In a sermon delivered on behalf of the Right Reverend Kofi Fianu, Catholic Bishop of Ho Diocese, the Cathedral Administrator of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Rev Fr Isaac Benuyenah, urged Ghanaians to recognise that national transformation begins with individual transformation.
He said building the Ghana citizens desired should not be regarded as a future political project but as an immediate responsibility that starts in homes, schools, churches, workplaces, markets and communities.
Rev Fr Benuyenah challenged citizens to move from a culture of entitlement to one of responsibility by asking, “What can I do for Mother Ghana?” Instead of expecting the government to solve every national problem.
He lamented the recurring floods that continue to claim lives and destroy property, attributing many of the disasters to indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains and irresponsible environmental practices.
He called on Ghanaians to renew their minds by rejecting corruption, shortcuts and selfishness while embracing integrity, service and godliness.
The priest said integrity must become the country’s guiding principle, stressing that quality roads, credible educational certificates and efficient public services could only be achieved through honesty and professionalism.
He warned that small acts of corruption eventually translate into widespread poverty, weak institutions, and declining standards in education and healthcare.
Rev Fr Benuyenah further urged Ghanaians to reject tribal, ethnic and political divisions and instead embrace national unity.
“We are one nation in one boat. If the boat sinks, we all sink. If we row together, we all arrive,” he said, calling on citizens to compete with ideas rather than insults and ethnic loyalties.
He also encouraged Ghanaians to support local industries by patronising Made-in-Ghana products and reducing excessive dependence on imports, saying a country that failed to produce would struggle to attain sustainable economic growth.
The priest appealed to citizens to speak out against corruption, abuse of office and the misuse of public resources instead of remaining silent in the face of wrongdoing.
He also challenged parents to pay greater attention to the moral upbringing of their children, warning that many young people exhibited values outside the home that contradicted those taught by their families.
Rev Fr Benuyenah expressed concern that nearly seven decades after independence, Ghana continued to rely heavily on imported goods instead of strengthening local production and industrialisation.
He prayed for God to renew the hearts of Ghanaians and called on commercial drivers, motorcyclists, public servants and all citizens to embrace discipline, patriotism and accountability.
He urged every Ghanaian to become an agent of positive change, saying the nation could only achieve sustainable development through collective commitment to integrity, unity and hard work.
Rev Seth Mawutor, the Volta Regional Chairman of the National Peace Council, said the occasion provided an opportunity for Ghanaians from all religious denominations, ethnic backgrounds and political persuasions to come together in gratitude to God for His protection, peace and the progress the nation had made over the years.
Rev Mawutor urged participants to remain united in prayer for continued peace, national development and prosperity.
Offerings received during the celebration were donated to the Cure Leprosy Village in Ho to support the welfare of persons affected by leprosy.
The donation formed part of the event’s humanitarian activities, reflecting the organisers’ commitment to extending compassion and practical support to vulnerable members of society in line with the spirit of thanksgiving and national unity.
The event brought together clergy, traditional rulers, Muslim leaders, security service commanders, government officials, heads of departments, students from senior high schools and tertiary institutions, as well as members of the public.
GNA
Edited By: Maxwell Awumah/Kenneth Odeng Adade