According to Mr Mahama, the day has great significance as it acknowledges Ghana’s democratic credentials and is a testament to the political stability that the country has enjoyed over the years, which has become a point of reference for other countries.

“It is a day that heralds, the global recognition of our country as a worthy example of Democratic Governance and Stability for other states,” the former President said in a Facebook post.

“The 4th Republic will be our last Republic and would last for centuries to come. We owe the foundation of our Political Stability to the Good People of Ghana and the contributions of the various political parties and actors, post January 07, 1993”

John Mahama added in the post that he would be honouring an invitation to participate in the Thanksgiving Service “to thank God for the strengthening of our democracy over the last 25 years.”

Below is the full Facebook post from John Dramani Mahama:

The event, which is under the theme “Celebrating the goodness of the Lord” is meant to acknowledge the country’s stable democracy over the past two decades.

A circular issued on the president’s social media pages urged guests at the event to be seated by 3pm.

‘Waste of money’

The Convention People’s Party, however, has opposed this plan by the government’s plan to hold a thanksgiving service to mark the silver jubilee of the country’s Fourth Republic.

According to the party, organising such a function would amount to a waste of the country’s resources.

The Communications Director of the CPP, Kadir Abdul Rauf Issifu told Citi News that the amount which will be used to finance the event will be a wasted investment since the ceremony was unnecessary.

“The timing is wrong… They don’t really intend to involve political actors. If they really wanted to, they would have given us at least 3 months ahead so that we start planning and thinking together. We have problems as a people in this country and since the NPP was elected into power, there are burning issues. Even their own flamboyant promises, they have not even met them halfway and Ghanaians are actually watching,” he said.

25 years of the Fourth Republic

Ghana’s 25-year-long democratic journey has seen the country being led by five different presidents including the incumbent, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

The first regime of the Fourth Republic was led by Former President Jerry John Rawlings, whose leadership transitioned from a military government under the Provisional National Defence Council (PNDC) to constitutional rule under the National Democratic Congress (NDC) in 1992.

After serving two terms in office making him ineligible to run against as president, Rawlings endorsed his vice-president at the time, Prof. John Evans Atta Mills as the NDC’s presidential candidate in 2000.

Atta-Mills, however, lost the elections to the New Patriotic Party’s (NPP) John Agyekum Kufuor in the 2000 elections.

Kufuor led the country for two terms; from 2000 to 2004 and then to 2008.

Prof. Atta-Mills won the 2008 elections against the NPP’s Nana Akufo-Addo and served until 2012 when he died, 6 months before the end of his first term.

His position was taken by the then Vice President, John Mahama, who was in accordance with the constitution sworn-in hours after the news of Prof. Atta-Mills’ death.

John Mahama completed Atta-Mills’ tenure and went on to win the 2012 presidential elections, again, against Nana Akufo-Addo.

Mahama’s attempt to seek re-election a second term in office was unsuccessful as Nana Akufo-Addo, on his third presidential attempt, secured a resounding election victory of acquiring 53.85% of the total valid votes cast against Mahama’s 44.40%.

The 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana that came into effect on January 7, 1993, after it was approved on April 28, 1992 through a national referendum after 92% support.

The constitution declared Ghana to be a unitary republic with sovereignty residing in the Ghanaian people.

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By: Jonas Nyabor & Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mahama to attend Service marking 25 years of democratic rule appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Speaking at the event, President Nana Akufo-Addo called on all Ghanaians to pray for the preservation of peace, unity and freedom in Ghana.

He said it was only appropriate that Ghanaians renew prayers for the country.

The event, which was held at the Accra International Conference Center, marks exactly a year since the party wrestled power from the John Mahama-led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government.

President Akufo Addo, his Vice, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, and other leading members of the party attended.

Akufo-Addo wins 2016 elections

Akufo-Addo thwarted John Mahama’s plan of serving a second term by beating him in the election with 53.85% of the total valid votes cast, against Mahama’s 44.4%.

Akufo-Addo’s victory was described as historic in many ways, as it was the first time a sitting President was beaten in an election, and also the first time a total vote difference of more than 1 million was recorded, between the winner and his closest opponent in an election in Ghana.

Many analysts who sought to explain Akufo-Addo’s victory attributed it to factors that include the general trend of public disaffection for sitting governments that have served 8 years in government, impunity and the perception of massive corruption in the NDC government among other things.

“May the almighty continue to preserve the peace, the unity and the freedom of Ghana, that those who he has called to serve in government, that he continues to endow them with the spirit of humility, the spirit of service, so that they can address the needs of the people of  Ghana for progress and prosperity,” he said.

72-year-old Akufo-Addo, a lawyer, had earlier made two unsuccessful attempts at the presidency.

He contested the NDC’s John Evans Atta-Mills in 2008 but lost. He again failed on his second attempt in 2012 against the NDC’s candidate John Mahama.

The NPP’s conviction that the NDC rigged the election forced it to file a motion at the Supreme Court to challenge the results of the elections.

An 8-month-long legal tussle over the matter, eventually saw the Supreme Court upholding the election results declared by the Electoral Commission in favour of the NDC.

This however led to some reforms in Ghana’s electoral laws.

While on the campaign trail for the 2016 elections, Nana Addo announced policies that include setting up a factory in every district, building a dam in every village of the three Northern Regions, and providing a Ghc 1 million development fund for every constituency, as some of the things he will do when he comes to power.

He also pledged to reintroduce the payment of a monthly allowance to nursing and teacher trainees in the country – something the NDC government stopped doing because it said it wanted to invest the money into educational infrastructure to enable it to admit more trainees.

Although Akufo-Addo has not explicitly given timelines to his pledges and policies, most Ghanaians are highly expectant of moves to implement them, especially in his first year.

So far, the allowance for trainee nurses and teachers has been restored, whereas the party’s flagship programme, Free SHS has been implemented, although it is faced with initial challenges.

Processes towards the fulfillment of other promises are also ongoing.

President Akufo-Addo said he will continue to seek good guidance and counsel from God to rule and put Ghana in a good state.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP’s election victory thanksgiving service in pictures appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The service was under the theme: “We will rejoice in thy salvation and in the name of our God. We will set up our banners. The Lord fulfil all thy petitions, Psalm 20:5.”

A number of renowned gospel artistes and preachers ministered during the service including; Diana Asamoah, Philipa Baafi, Nicholas Omane Acheampong, Christina Love, Rev. Owusu Bempah and Josh Laryea.

Present at the service were Nana Addo’s running Running Mate and incoming Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia; his wife, Samira Bawumia; NPP’s acting Chairman, Freddy Blay, members of the presidential transition team led by Yaw Osafo Marfo and other prominent party personalities.

Speaking at the service, president-elect Nana Akufo-Addo condemned acts of violence allegedly being perpetrated by supporters of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) following the party’s victory, and urged Ghanaians to forgive one another and exhibit kindness.

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By: citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NPP thanksgiving service in pictures appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.