John Mahama to reinstate Republic Day in honour of Ghana’s founder – NDC MP

Builsa South Member of Parliament, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, has criticised President Akufo-Addo for dismissing the claim that the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah was the founder of Ghana.

He says such comment is regrettable and is an attempt to distort facts about Ghana’s history.

He made the remarks in reference to former President John Dramani Mahama’s promise to reinstate July 1 as a public holiday, a day that reminds us of our republican history.

Dr Apaak maintained that the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah is the sole founder of Ghana and nothing can change that history.

He said Ghanaians reject any attempt by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rewrite the country’s history.

Republic Day on July 1 is no longer a public holiday.

The public holiday was abolished following the assent of the Public Holidays Amendment Act, 2019 by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

A statement signed and issued by the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery, on Wednesday, May 8, 2019, announced that President Akufo-Addo had assented to the new law on April 16, 2019.

“The President of the Republic of Ghana, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, assented to the Public Holidays Amendment Act, 2019 (Act 986) on 16th April, 2019,” he said.

Former President John Dramani Mahama has assured Ghanaians that he will reinstate the holiday if elected president.

He condemned Akufo-Addo for his comments and said he would reinstate July 1 as a public holiday.

“I will reinstate July 1 (Republic Day) as a public holiday when the NDC takes power.”

Dr Apaak noted that Mr Mahama would reinstate the holiday to celebrate Dr Kwame Nkrumah as the sole founder of the Republic of Ghana.

“July 1st will be a public holiday under the JDM/NDC. The JDM will reinstate Republic Day in honour of the ONE and ONLY founder of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. We vehemently reject any attempt to rewrite the history of Ghana.”