President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to draw inspiration from the vision and legacy of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as the country marks Founder’s Day, urging citizens at home and abroad to embrace selfless patriotism and contribute to what he describes as the unfinished work of nation-building.
In a message shared on social media on Monday, September 21, President Mahama described the occasion as an opportunity for Ghanaians at home and abroad to reflect on Dr Nkrumah’s contribution to Ghana’s independence struggle and his broader vision for Africa.
He said Kwame Nkrumah’s commitment to liberty, Pan-African unity and self-reliance helped establish Ghana as a symbol of hope and possibility on the global stage.
Mahama said that the former President’s belief in the capacity of Africans to determine and manage their own affairs remains relevant to Ghana’s national identity and aspirations.
“Today is our Founder’s Day, another opportunity for us to pause as a people and honour the immortal legacy of our nation’s founder, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah,” the President wrote.
“He was a visionary whose relentless pursuit of liberty, Pan-African unity, and self-reliance placed Ghana as a beacon of hope on the global stage. His bold declaration that ‘the black man is capable of managing his own affairs’ remains the bedrock of our national pride”.
Nation-Building ‘Not Complete’
President Mahama said the celebration should go beyond commemorating Kwame Nkrumah’s achievements and serve as a reminder of the responsibilities that remain in Ghana’s nation-building journey.
He noted that while Ghana attained political independence under Dr Nkrumah’s leadership, the broader task of building a prosperous and equitable society remains ongoing.
“As we celebrate his unparalleled legacy today, I remind every Ghanaian at home and in the diaspora that the work of nation-building is not complete”.
The President urged Ghanaians to draw strength from Dr Nkrumah’s ideals and apply them to contemporary efforts aimed at transforming the country.
“Let us draw strength from Osagyefo’s vision and contribute in our own way to attaining the Resetting Ghana Agenda. I charge us all to rise above division, embrace selfless patriotism, and work tirelessly toward economic freedom and social justice”.
President Mahama further linked the ideals of political independence championed by Dr Nkrumah to the current pursuit of economic and social development.
“Just as Nkrumah fought for our political independence, we have a collective duty today to build a prosperous, equitable, and resilient Ghana,” he stated.
What the Resetting Ghana Agenda Entails
The “Resetting Ghana Agenda” that President Mahama referenced is the government’s comprehensive development framework for 2025–2029, officially titled “Creating Jobs, Ensuring Accountability and Promoting Shared Prosperity.” It was presented to the 9th Parliament in October 2025 as the Coordinated Programme of Economic and Social Development Policies.
The programme is anchored in a vision to build a just, inclusive and prosperous Ghana through production-led growth, decent jobs, social justice and accountable governance, while safeguarding natural resources for future generations. It responds directly to the economic and governance challenges the administration inherited, including elevated public debt, fiscal stress, persistent youth unemployment, widening inequality and declining public trust in state institutions.
The framework is organised around five interrelated dimensions of national development: economic development, social development, infrastructure, environmental sustainability and governance. Flagship initiatives include the 24-Hour Economy, the ‘Adwumawura’ MSME initiative, the Rapid Industrialisation for Jobs Programme, the National Apprenticeship Programme, the One Million Coders Programme and the Ghana Medical Care Trust Fund (MahamaCares) for chronic disease support.
Economic Turnaround
The President’s Founder’s Day message comes as Ghana’s economy has shown significant signs of recovery under the Resetting Ghana Agenda. Inflation has declined from 23.4 per cent at the end of 2024 to 3.3 per cent by March 2026 — the lowest headline figure since 2021 — while the Ghana cedi has strengthened from between GH¢16 and GH¢17 to about GH¢10.70 against the US dollar.
Ghana’s Gross Domestic Product has crossed the $114 billion mark, ranking as Africa’s eighth largest economy, with GDP growth reaching 6.4 per cent in the first quarter of 2026. Foreign exchange reserves have risen from $8.6 billion in 2024 to $13.9 billion in 2025.
In February 2026, President Mahama declared that the government was shifting from stabilisation to job creation and growth, with the 24-Hour Economy policy targeting nearly 1.7 million jobs by incentivising businesses to operate across three shifts. Parliament subsequently passed the 24-Hour Economy Authority Bill, with GH¢110 million allocated in the 2026 Budget to kickstart implementation.
Accountability and Anti-Corruption Drive
The “Ensuring Accountability” pillar of the agenda has seen the government introduce several institutional measures. Cabinet approved the National Ethics and Anti-Corruption Action Plan 2026–2030 in June 2026, a new policy framework to guide the country’s anti-corruption efforts, replacing the previous National Anti-Corruption Action Plan. Special audit courts have been established to prosecute cases of financial irregularities captured in the Auditor-General’s reports, with state-owned enterprise bosses warned to refund stolen funds or face jail.
The President has also signed the Value for Money Office Bill into law, establishing a dedicated office to review government procurements and ensure public funds deliver full value.
A Holiday Restored
This year’s observance carries additional significance because the status of the day itself has been contested. In 2019, the Akufo-Addo administration amended the Public Holidays Act to make 4 August Founders’ Day, recognising the wider group of nationalists behind the independence struggle, and redesignated 21 September as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day. The change divided opinion sharply along political lines, with the then Minority walking out of Parliament over the amendment.
President Mahama reversed the decision through the Public Holidays and Commemorative Days (Amendment) Act, 2025, restoring 21 September — Nkrumah’s birthday — as Founder’s Day while removing August 4 from the holiday calendar. The Convention People’s Party (CPP) expressed gratitude to President Mahama and the government for the reinstatement.
Monday, September 21, 2026 marked the 117th birth anniversary of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who was born on September 21, 1909, at Nkroful in the then Gold Coast. He became a leading figure in the independence movement and served as Prime Minister before Ghana gained independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957.
Other Commemorations
Vice President Prof. Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang also commemorated Founder’s Day, posting a tribute on X honouring the legacy of Ghana’s first President.
President Mahama concluded his message by wishing Ghanaians a happy Founder’s Day and praying for God’s blessings on the country.
