Rare gathering of Kufuor, Akufo-Addo underscores message of national unity as leader announces landmark UN motion on slavery
In a powerful display of bipartisan unity, President John Dramani Mahama brought together Ghana’s living former presidents yesterday as the nation marked its 69th Independence Anniversary at the Jubilee House, using the occasion to honour every administration since independence and announce a historic motion to the United Nations declaring slavery a crime against humanity.
Former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo joined President Mahama on the dais at the forecourt of the presidency, creating a rare visual representation of democratic maturity that underscored the President’s message of collective nation-building.
“Today, we honour the memory of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah and all others who have led this country after him,” President Mahama said in his address. “All of them have been a part of our history and have brought us to this moment in our lives.”
In a deliberate roll call spanning Ghana’s political history, the President acknowledged leaders from Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia through military regimes to the Fourth Republic, including Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, the late John Evans Atta Mills, and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
“Every administration, regardless of its political inclination, has played its part in building the nation we all proudly call Ghana,” he told the gathering.
Democracy’s Maturity
The presence of three living leaders within the intimate setting of the Jubilee House forecourt provided striking visual testimony to Ghana’s democratic journey—a point the President emphasised in his address.
“Our democracy has endured because we’ve learned to compete without destroying, to disagree without hatred, and to transfer power peacefully, which is evidence of the maturity and the wisdom of the Ghanaian people,” President Mahama stated.
For the second consecutive year, the national celebration departed from tradition, shifting from the vast Black Star Square to the seat of government—a decision the administration said reflected fiscal prudence and a desire to reduce the financial burden of the annual event.
The scaled-down ceremony lent the occasion a more focused atmosphere, with schoolchildren, traditional leaders, and citizens from all walks of life sharing the space with the nation’s leadership.
A Covenant with Citizens
Speaking under the theme “Building Prosperity, Inspiring Hope,” President Mahama framed the anniversary as a solemn promise between the government and the governed.
“This theme is more than just ceremonial,” he said. “It represents a covenant between the government and the governed, a solemn promise that every disability, every decision we make, and every policy we implement must foster prosperity and renew hope for every Ghanaian.”
Reflecting on his mandate, the President said: “My fellow citizens, when I took office, you granted me a clear mandate to reset our nation, Ghana. Resetting Ghana goes beyond simply managing our issues. It involves transforming how we govern, how we produce, and how we share the fruits of our prosperity.”
He assured citizens that over the past year, his administration had taken decisive steps to stabilise the economy and restore investor confidence.
Historic UN Motion on Slavery
In a significant announcement, President Mahama revealed that Ghana would formally submit a motion to the United Nations declaring slavery and the transatlantic slave trade as the gravest crime against humanity—describing the move as long-overdue justice.
“The dungeons of the Cape Coast and Elmina castles remind us of the dark chapters of history when millions of Africans were forcibly transported across the Middle Passage to the so-called New World,” he said. “Yet, from that tragedy arose the remarkable resilience, creativity, and cultural brilliance that continue to influence the world.”
The President disclosed that Ghana would take the motion to the United Nations later this month.
“This motion will represent the justice and restitution that is long overdue. And Ghana, the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence, will once again lead the global call for dignity and restoration,” he added.
Distinguished Gathering
The ceremony drew a cross-section of Ghanaian leadership and international guests. First Lady Lordina Dramani Mahama accompanied the President, while Vice-President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, and Chief Justice Justice Baffoe Bonnie were prominently seated.
The Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, Terrance Michael Drew, attended as a distinguished international guest, accompanied by his wife Diani Prince-Drew.
National Democratic Congress National Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah joined the gathering, highlighting the intersection of party leadership and state ceremony.
The nation’s top Service Commanders, the Chief of the Defence Staff Lieutenant General William Agyapong, and Inspector General of Police Christian Tetteh Yohuno attended in ceremonial regalia, alongside the diplomatic corps, ministers of state, and Members of Parliament.
Ceremonial Traditions
The day’s proceedings began at 8 a.m. with guests assembling at the Jubilee House forecourt. Security contingents from the Armed Forces, Police, Prisons, Fire, and Immigration services marched onto the forecourt with precision, accompanied by massed bands.
Following the arrival of the Vice-President, the presidential motorcade swept into the precincts at exactly 9 a.m. President Mahama, accompanied by the First Lady, received a formal presidential salute before proceedings commenced with the National Pledge.
In a display of Ghana’s religious tolerance, a traditional priest, an Imam, and a Christian clergyman offered prayers for national peace, unity, and prosperity.
The President inspected the parade, lit the Perpetual Flame—a symbolic link to the nation’s founders—and witnessed cultural performances by schoolchildren and a recital of patriotic songs and poetry by senior high school students.
A 21-gun salute echoed across the grounds before the National Anthem, followed by the traditional Drum Appellation—a rhythmic, poetic roll-call honouring the President’s lineage and virtues.
The formal proceedings concluded by 11 a.m. with a final National Salute as the Presidential party departed and contingents filed off the forecourt.
President Mahama used the occasion to address ordinary Ghanaians directly, speaking six days after his State of the Nation Address.
“Today, I speak not only to our Parliament, but to every Ghanaian,” he said. “The farmer in the northern Savannah, the trader in the Makola markets, the teachers in our classrooms, the nurses in our hospitals and clinics, the young entrepreneur with a smartphone in his hand, and every Ghanaian, both at home and in the diaspora. This is our story. This is our moment.”
