President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians, particularly Muslims, to uphold the values of Ramadan beyond the Eid-ul-Fitr celebrations, stressing that the lessons of the holy month must guide national life.
He emphasised that Ramadan represented a period of spiritual renewal marked by sacrifice, discipline, compassion and humility, values that must extend beyond the holy month into everyday life.
“My brothers and sisters, Eid is not only a celebration, it is a call to continuity.
Let us carry forward the spirit of Ramadan in how we treat one another, in how we serve our communities, and in how we uphold justice and fairness.
Let us remain guided by compassion for the vulnerable and kindness to our neighbours and integrity in all that we do,” he said.
The President was speaking at the Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations at the Independence Square last Friday.
Hundreds of Muslims gathered at the national monument to mark the festival, signalling the end of the holy month of Ramadan.
This year's celebration was on the theme: “Our Earth, Our Future”.
Strength in diversity
The President enumerated the country’s religious and cultural diversity as a source of strength rather than division.
Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu (2nd from left) leading the prayers
He pointed to the country’s long-standing tradition of peaceful coexistence, where Muslims and Christians celebrated each other’s festivals and participated in shared social life.
President Mahama urged citizens to protect this harmony by rejecting extremism, intolerance and divisive rhetoric.
Emphasising unity, the President called for dialogue over conflict and mutual respect over suspicion.
“Fellow citizens, Ghana continues to stand as a shining example of peaceful coexistence.
Our diversity of faith and culture is not a weakness; it is rather our strength.
This harmony is a precious gift given to us by Allah and we must protect it,” he stated.
President Mahama stressed that national cohesion was essential for progress, and that preserving interfaith harmony was a shared responsibility, ensuring the country remained a model of peace and stability in an increasingly polarised world.
Development agenda
President Mahama further outlined a comprehensive national reset agenda to restore hope and rebuild trust across the country.
Johnson Asiedu-Nketia (left) in a heartwarming moment with Alexander Afenyo-Markin (right), Minority Leader of Parliament, during the Eid celebrations
Key priorities of this agenda include expanding access to quality education to empower young Ghanaians, creating sustainable job opportunities for the youth, strengthening healthcare and investing in critical infrastructure across all regions.
Special attention, he added, would be given to uplifting underserved communities, particularly zangos, to ensure that no one was left behind.
The President emphasised that government efforts alone were insufficient, and called on citizens to participate in the nation’s development actively.
President Mahama stressed that true national progress depended on inclusive development, underpinned by integrity, compassion and active collaboration between the government and the people.
As President, I stay dedicated to creating a Ghana that serves all its citizens.
Our recent agenda focuses on restoring hope, rebuilding trust and creating opportunities for everyone.
We'll keep making sure that development reaches every part of our nation.
But the government alone cannot achieve this.
We need your partnership, we need your prayers and your continued commitment to national development,” he said.
Global peace
Addressing global tensions, the President expressed deep concern over ongoing conflicts, particularly in the Middle East, where innocent lives continued to be lost and communities are displaced.
He called for prayers for victims, healing for the injured and comfort for bereaved families.
Stressing shared humanity, the President invoked the principle that saving one life was akin to saving all humanity.
He urged world leaders to prioritise dialogue over war and to pursue peaceful resolutions.
Reaffirming the country’s stance, President Mahama reiterated its commitment to peace, justice and international law, pledging to continue advocating global peace and conflict resolution.
