Former General Secretary of the Christian Council of Ghana, Rev. Dr. Kwabena Opuni-Frimpong, has commended the government for organising the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving but has emphasised that prayer alone is not enough to transform the nation.
The service, held on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, at the forecourt of the State House in Accra, brought together religious leaders, political figures, and thousands of citizens to mark Ghana’s Republic Day.
The event was characterised by reflection and prayers for peace, unity, and national development.
Speaking on Morning Starr with Naa Dedei Tettey on Wednesday, July 2, Rev. Dr. Opuni-Frimpong welcomed the initiative, describing it as a positive step in promoting national unity.
However, he stressed the need for Ghanaians to complement their prayers with concrete actions that address the country’s moral, social, and developmental challenges.
“We must commend our leaders for the opportunity created for us as a country to come together and pray as Christians, as Muslims. It is a wonderful thing. But then when you call for prayer as people of faith, you are calling for two important things. You are calling for divine intervention. You are putting your trust and hope in God. But you are also calling for human effort that we will do what we are supposed to do.”
He cautioned against using prayer as a cover for inaction, saying, “Prayer should not make us irresponsible. You don’t hide behind prayer. And things that human beings are supposed to do, you assume that the divine will do. It doesn’t work like that.”
Rev. Dr. Opuni-Frimpong observed that the service effectively highlighted moral, economic, and national cohesion issues, underscoring the importance of translating prayers into tangible efforts for nation-building.
During the service, Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, former President of the Vatican’s Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, also echoed similar sentiments.
He noted that transforming the country cannot be the responsibility of President John Dramani Mahama alone but requires the collective participation of all Ghanaians.
Cardinal Turkson urged citizens to embrace patriotism, moral integrity, and unity to advance national development, while President Mahama cautioned against the divisive forces of tribalism, religious extremism, and political hostility.
The National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving marked the first of its kind under President Mahama’s administration and is intended to become an annual platform for fostering peace, reflection, and shared responsibility in Ghana’s development journey.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Hamdia Mohammed
