The Social Justice Movement of Ghana (SJMG) has expressed their displeasure about the change of July 1, a Statutory Holiday to a commemoration day and to be observed as such.
This was contained in a communiqué issued by the movement on the occasion to mark the Republic Day, July 1, 2019, the Social Justice Movement of Ghana (SJMG), in continuation of the tradition the movement started in 2017, reflected deeply on the significance of the Republic Day for ordinary Ghanaians.
The movement also carried out an in-depth introspection and review of the state of the organization and outlined what SJMG needs to do to become a force to reckon with at national level and thereby break the 2-party duopoly and control of our governance.
The SJMG notes with deep regret and disappointment His Excellency, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo assent to the Public Holidays (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act 986) on 16th April 2019 and its attendant effect of Republic Day no longer being a public holiday.
The movement unreservedly condemn the decision to downscale the status of Ghana’s Republic Day celebration and call for it to be reinstated and given even more significance than Ghana’s Independence Day celebrations.
It was on this day, July 1, 1960 that the Nkrumah government broke formally with British Colonialism.
It marked the beginning of the journey of the people of Ghana as masters of their own destiny.
On March 11, 1964, Nkrumah presented to the people of Ghana, a Seven-Year Development Plan, which when completed, would bring Ghana to the threshold of a modem State based on a highly organised and efficient agricultural and industrial program.
Less than 2 years later, on the 24th of February 1966, the Kwame Nkrumah government was overthrown and ushered in Ghana’s decline and prevailing nightmare.
The SJMG reaffirmed its commitment and determination to organise the youth, women, and other marginalized people to lead the process of building a peaceful and prosperous Ghana, a country in which there shall be work and happiness.
The SJMG remains convinced that it is only under a socialist Ghana that there shall be prosperity for all Ghanaians.
It is against this background that the SJMG is calling on all progressive groups to go above their differences and come together and organize under one umbrella to provide an alternative to the NPP/NDC dominance of the political process.
Story by : Emmanuel Akayeti
