Former NPP secretary calls for reinstatement of July 1st as statutory holiday

Nana Ohene Ntow, former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) and currently a staunch member of the Movement for Change led by Alan Kyerematen, has opposed the commemorative celebration of July 1.

Ghana became a Republic on July 1, 1960, and it was made a statutory holiday in remembrance of the day.

However, the Nana Addo administration changed it from a statutory to a commemorative holiday, thereby establishing August 4 as a statutory holiday to celebrate the founders of Ghana.

Making his submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Nana Ohene Ntow argued that July 1 is a very significant day in Ghana's history, which should not merely be commemoratively celebrated.

To him, the day has lost its relevance since it was made commemorative.

He argued for the restoration of the day, emphasizing, "We need to identify as Ghanaians first before parties. There shouldn't be any deliberate attempt by any government to try and change certain major significant milestones of our history. People feel there is a certain attempt to change significant dates in terms of our history, and when that happens, someone will always use political opposition to rise against it."

He asserted that there should be a commitment to celebrating the day; "otherwise, we discuss it, but the reality is that we will never really change the situation. We will never really become nationalistic in our psyche."