President John Mahama has expressed his appreciation to Peter Cardinal Appiah Turkson for accepting to preach the sermon at the first National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving Service slated for July 1.
The maiden edition of the National Prayer and Thanksgiving Service will be held at the forecourt of the Jubilee House at 8:00am to be followed by a Muslim Prayer at 12:30pm.
Cardinal Turkson in response noted that “if the President of your country calls, you can’t say no.”
He reiterated the need for the church and government to provide support and guidance in towards our development and democracy.
He mentioned the new possibility of the church using its existing structures to promote sustainability, adding that the Catholic Church currently has a pilot project in Nigeria and will soon replicate that in other parts of the world.
Cardinal Turkson who arrived in Accra today, expressed appreciation to President Mahama for inviting him to preach at the Thanksgiving Service.
On April 25, President John Dramani Mahama announced that July 1st, traditionally celebrated as Ghana’s Republic Day, will henceforth also be observed as the country’s National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.
Speaking at the inauguration of the planning committee for the event, the President emphasized that the peace and stability Ghana continues to enjoy is no coincidence.
The president described the nation’s religious harmony as a blessing that must be cherished and never taken for granted.
“One of Ghana’s greatest blessings is the harmony with which we practice our diverse faiths. Christians, Muslims and traditionalists, we worship differently but we work together as one people. This is a national treasure that we must never take for granted.
“This is the spirit with which we must move forward, and so with conviction, reverence and unity of purpose, I hereby declare the Republic Day 1st of July of every year also as Ghana’s official National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving,” he declared.
Member of the Committee, Elvis Afriyie Ankrah says the day will serve as a moment of reflection, gratitude, and unity as Ghanaians come together in prayer to thank God for his guidance and protection over Ghana.
“We assure you, Mr President and the good people of Ghana that we will discharge our duties with diligence and dedication. We understand the weight of the responsibility entrusted to us.
“It is our hope and prayer that the work we do will not only make Ghana proud but will serve as inspiration to other nations that the people who acknowledge God, give thanks to Him and live in unity can achieve their impossible,” he said.
