John Mahama Pledges National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving

Former President John Mahama has announced plans to introduce an annual National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving, aimed at bringing together all faiths to express gratitude and seek divine guidance for the nation. Speaking at an engagement with religious leaders in Ho, Volta Region, Mr. Mahama highlighted the importance of thanksgiving in all circumstances, drawing on biblical teachings and international examples.

He recounted his experiences attending national thanksgiving and prayer events in countries such as the United States and Zambia, which inspired him to envision a similar tradition in Ghana.

“Even though God expects us to work hard to improve our circumstances, we must also recognize that spiritually, you must intercede for God to open the gates for you. In the United States, in Zambia, and so many countries I have visited, I have been invited to National Thanksgiving and Prayer Dedications. Therefore, we intend to introduce a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving,” Mr. Mahama explained.

He added, “We will give thanks to God for all that He has done for us, because He said to count your blessings, and if you appreciate what the Lord has done for you, He will do even more for you.”

Mr. Mahama emphasized that this collective prayer and thanksgiving would invoke God’s blessings and prosperity for the nation. He envisions a day when both the Christian and Muslim communities will come together to intercede for Ghana's prosperity.

“So we will hold a National Day of Prayers for both the Christian and Muslim communities so that all of us together will continue to intercede for God to open the gates for Ghana so that our country will prosper,” he stated.

Choose Leaders with Integrity

In addition to his promise of a National Day of Prayer, Mr. Mahama urged voters to elect leaders with integrity and the ability to make discerning decisions. He emphasized that leadership involves making choices that significantly impact lives, underscoring the importance of integrity and transparency.

“Leadership is about making choices that shape lives, and it’s essential to exercise discernment in decision-making, as the consequences of those choices affect countless individuals,” he noted.

Citing the example of President Bush’s decision to go to war, which cost many lives, Mr. Mahama expressed concerns about the consequences of poor leadership. He warned against leaders who present themselves as righteous but may have ulterior motives, stating, “Some come like sheep but are wolves, so we have to be careful.”

He also criticized the current government's handling of the banking sector crisis, describing it as a poor decision that led to unnecessary hardship for many Ghanaians. “If I were president, I wouldn’t have collapsed those banks, throwing thousands into hardship,” Mr. Mahama said.

He highlighted how the government's demand for banks to raise their minimum capital requirements to GHC 400 million, despite the unpaid loans owed to contractors, exacerbated the situation. “You said you wanted them to raise their minimum capital requirements to GHC 400 million, meanwhile they had given loans to contractors that the government had not paid, and if it was paid, they could have raised their capital. On top of it, you guaranteed the deposits of their customers, which cost about $2.2 billion,” Mr. Mahama explained.

Peace and Support from Religious Leaders

The religious leaders in attendance welcomed Mr. Mahama with cheers and commended him for his peaceful campaign. Rev. Seth Kwasi Mawutor, leader of the Christian community, expressed his appreciation for the former president’s approach.

“I have monitored your campaign, and we are excited about the peaceful manner you are conducting it. So the church prays that it will continue to be peaceful during and after the election,” Rev. Mawutor said.

The Christian leaders prayed for a peaceful election and presented Mr. Mahama with a Bible, encouraging him to trust in the Lord. Similarly, the Muslim community expressed their support for Mr. Mahama and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), emphasizing their desire for justice and peace. They prayed for his protection and urged the Electoral Commission to ensure a fair election.