The Minority National Democratic Congress, (NDC) in Parliament led by Member of Tamale South, Haruna Iddrisu, has boycotted the second reading of the controversial Public Holiday (Amendment) Bill and other issues related to The Bill before Parliament.
According to The Minority, The Bill was an attempt to change the long-held history of Ghana with the view that, globally, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is the founder of Ghana, hence their decision to walked out when The Bill is being debated.
The purpose of this Bill is to amend the Public Holidays Act, 2001 (Act 601) to provide for the January 7, August 4 and September 21, as additional statutory public holidays and for the celebration of May 25, and July 1, as commemorative days.
The Chairman of The Select Committee on Defence and Interior, Seth Kwame Achampong noted that the existing Founder’s Day holiday which is observed on the 21st day of September, will now be observed as a Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day and will continue to be a public holiday.
The August 4 will also be observed as a public holiday in recognition and appreciation of the role the forebears played towards the founding of independent Ghana.
The Committee further said, “The January 7, will likewise be observed as a public holiday in remembrance of the coming into force of the 1992 Constitution, which birth the Fourth Republic, the longest surviving Constitution as well as Republic in our history”.
The African Union (AU) and Republic day will now be observed as commemorative days, the report added.
The Committee again observed that in 2002, an amendment was made to the Public
Holiday Act, 2001 (Act 601), to include Africa Union Day (AU) and this amendment was later consolidated in Act 601 .
BACKGROUND
From the onset of colonialism of the Gold Coast through to Independence of Ghana in 1957, various citizens have resisted and made vital contributions to the liberation of our nation from colonialism.
In honour of such persons, and in recognition of significant historical events, Government introduced the Bill to provide for the celebration of additional holidays and commemorative days.
The Aborigines Rights Protection Society was formed in Cape Coast on 4th August, 1897 to resist the enactment of the Crown Lands Bill and to begin the assertion of our national property rights.
This bravery exhibited by these nationalists and their successful efforts in opposing the Crown Lands Bill was a colossal step taken to preserve the lands of the country. This effort enhanced the movement towards self-determination and paved way for the struggle for the independence of Ghana without the attendant challenge of encumbered land rights of citizens as existed in other countries in the East and South Africa.
It is therefore signiflcant that we have knowledge and honour all of the members of society for the role they played.
Furthermore, August 4, 1947, the founders of the first nationalist party United Gold Coast Convention met in Saltpond to inaugurate the Convention and lead the nation in the tight for independence from the British.
The inauguration of the convention set the ball rolling for Ghana’s attainment of Independence as a Multi-party Democracy and for the dramatic events including the birth of the Convention Peoples Party in 1949, that ultimately ushered the country into independence.
Consequently, August 4, is a memorable day which signifies the recognition and appreciation of the efforts of our fore-fathers towards the the founding of a free, independent and Constitutional Ghana.
Ghana became Republic on July 1, 1960 and paved the way for subsequent constitutional Republics.
For this reason, it is important to recognize this day and commemorate it, to mark the beginning of an effort at multi-party democracy and constitutional rule.
Finally, the Fourth Republic which was established by the 1992 Constitution, was inaugurated on 7th January, 1993.
This date provides the basis for the longest, uninterrupted period of stable, constitutional rule in the history of Ghana. The day witnessed the achievement of seven successive Presidential and Parliamentary elections.
The transfef of power between the two major political parties, on three occasions has been peaceful. Additionally, it is therefore worthy to commemorate January 7, as a national holiday to acknowledge the collective efforts as a country in ensuring that the tenets of democracy, the rule of law and the principles of constitutionalism are upheld.
Stop by Edzorna Francis Mensah
