By Anthony Kweku Annan
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For some time now, the phrase Ghana@50 has become a household word. Under the theme Championing African Excellence, activities are being organised country-wide, to celebrate the life of our Motherland.
Ghana @ 50 simply means the fiftieth anniversary or the Golden Jubilee of the liberation of our dear Nation from Colonial domination. The Catholic Church has declared 2007, the Golden Jubilee as the Year of the Lord’s Favour, in line with Biblical tradition.
A single day in the life of an individual is a great favour from God, what more five decades or half of a century. The same holds good for Organisations and Nations. That is why we mark such events with some introspection and turn to God with our thanksgiving.
The subject evokes nostalgic feelings in some of us, particularly those who took part in the first independence Day Parade.
Biblical Perspective on “Jubilees” (Leviticus 25:2-21)
Some thousand years before Christ’s birth, the Israelites were in bondage in Egypt. Later, the Lord’s intervention brought them liberation on freedom, through Moses. Yahweh spoke to Moses on Mt. Sinai on how the Israelites should comport themselves in the country He was giving them.
They were to proclaim the Lord’s favour in the fiftieth year and observe it as sacred or holy. An account of the years was to be taken, for the sake of the productive years to follow. If the people complied with Yahweh’s instructions, to give the land some rest, the land will prosper and give its fruit for the people to eat their fill, and live in security. Moreover Yahweh’s blessing would be on them.
Gold Coast/Ghana
Ghana @ 50 celebrations send us into memory lane, beyond the 50 years, on account of the “gestation” period preceded the ‘birth.’ Our Independence story can hardly be told without reference to some periods before 1957.
* A Bond signed on March 6, 1844 placed the Gold Coast Colony, Ashanti and the Northern Territories under British Rule as a single “Colony.”
* Persistent representations and agitation by Chiefs, Intelligentsia, Workers Unions, Soldiers, etc. to end British domination over our people.
* Efforts of a group led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah eventually resulted in Self-Government or Independence for the Gold Coast on March 6 1957. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah launched a new Nation-State, called Ghana1 on the world scene and set us on a new beginning, with identity and responsibility for our own destiny.
* Ghana opened the floodgate for independence of several African States.
* In retrospect, Ghana has gone through many developmental pangs and “hiccups” in her economic and socio-political growth.
* Independence ushered in Mulit-Party Democracy, which later turned into One-Party State with an African Socialist ideology called Nkrumaism.
* July 1, 1960, Ghana became a Republic.
* Military Interventions (in 1966, 77, 78, 79, 81) alternated with Republics
* Partisan Politics were restored since 1993.
Creditably, Ghana has come out unscathed, as one country under 11 (eleven) Political Administrations, five Civilian and six Military, with two surviving Presidents. Be it as it may, the Nation continues to grapple with her infrastructural and economic development.
The Church derives its membership from the country’s population.
A pillar of support for Believers, she has been playing a noble role of a moderating factor intervening in the relations between the State apparatus and the Citizenry. Like a “Referee” or ‘Linesman,’ she regulates the National conscience and has not been “silent… until saving justice dawns on her (people) like a bright light…” (Is. 62).
The Church cannot stay aloof due to the Biblical injunction (Lev. 25). She also provides opportunities for her adherents to pray for the Nation and our Leaders, so that we can enjoy peace to worship the Lord and to go about our daily concerns.
If I may be permitted to re-cast the theme for the National celebrations of Ghana @ 50, the Body of Christ “Champions Spiritual Excellence,” and should add her weight to the solemnities, so as to guarantee the spiritual dimension of the occasion.
Reconciliation
By means of her teachings, the Church should stress the need for Reconciliation, or forgiveness for evil done. She should foster reconciliation for acts of “commission” (what was done wrongly) and “omissions” (what has been left undone), on individual or personal basis as well as corporate and national levels. The Church can facilitate the healing of physical, emotional and spiritual wounds or injuries, infractions and that can be rectified.
Thanksgiving
Surely, the Lord has been so good, kind and faithful to us as a Nation in these fifty years. Our numbers have increased in leaps and bounds. We thank God for men and women of vision and valour. We have been made beneficiaries of some good Policies, Projects and programmes. We continue to exist as one entity, a united people. Through all the changing scenes of life, God has never turned His back to us.
We have survived hunger, bush-fires, floods, draught, power-cuts and energy crises, occasional ethnic upheavals, strikes and demonstrations, serial killings and callers; armed robberies and fatal accidents. Being alive to witness these unfolding occurrences is, in itself, the best reason to be grateful to God.
Ghana @ 50 Activities
The programme shall have the following features:
It should capture the main framework of the Parish activities throughout the year. The “Jubilee” flavour must be applied to the various religious and social events that we observe in the Church.
For example J. Confirmation J. Group Wedding, J. Easter Picnic J. Carols Night etc.
It should provide opportunities for sober reflections on the Past, the Present, and to strategise for the future.
Through the year, we shall pray for our Nation, Leaders and entire people with the assurance that God “will restore (our Nation) and make her the pride of the world…” (Is. 62:7).
It should facilitate active participation at the Parish level, to celebrate our Reconciliation and Thanksgiving Prayer for the Nation: March 4 and on Independence Day.
Parishioners who mark special occasions on March 6, 1957 and especially those born on Independence Day itself should “own” the programme.
They should involve themselves in the once-in-a-lifetime events, bearing in mind that the next Jubilee (Diamond) will be in 2032 and Centenary: 2057.
The Youth should show keen interest in the deliberations, as they prepare themselves for the inevitable task of Nation-building in the near future.
Jer. 31:4 “… I shall build you …” (16) … stop your lamenting …(17) there is hope for you after all…”
Above all, the Parish drive home the virtues of (God and) forgiving spirit, selflessness, honest service to God and the nation and demonstrate Love.
In its small ways, the programme should be a vehicle to promote Peace, Understanding and Unity among the Parishioners.
Conclusion
The milestone we have reached has been an act of Divine favour.
Notwithstanding all our plans and programmes, the vagaries of life sometimes blurred the vision and altered the direction.
During these celebrations, Ghanaians should remember to pray for God’s help to build an undefiled heritage that will lead us on into our Second Home, and that our Heavenly Father will “…rebuild the ancient ruins; raise… and restore the ruined cities that have lain waste for ages past…” (Is. 61:4).
God Bless our Homeland, Ghana!
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