Former President John Mahama has pledged to introduce an annual national day of prayer and thanksgiving, to bring together all faiths to express gratitude and seek divine guidance for the country.

Speaking at an engagement with religious leaders in Ho in the Volta Region, Mr Mahama emphasised the importance of thanksgiving in all circumstances, citing biblical teachings and international examples.

He shared his experiences attending national thanksgiving and prayer events in countries like the United States and Zambia, inspiring him to initiate a similar tradition in Ghana. 

“Even though God expect us to work hard to improve our circumstances, also recognize that spiritually you must intercede for God to open the gates for you and so in the United States, in Zambia and so many countries I have been to, I have been invited to a National thanksgiving and prayers dedication and so we intend to introduce a national day of prayer and thanksgiving,” he said. 

Mr Mahama added “We will give thanks to God for all that God has done for us because he said to count your blessings and if you appreciate what the Lord has done for you he will do even more for you”. 

Mr Mahama said this collective prayer and thanksgiving will invoke God's blessings and prosperity for the nation.

“So we will hold a national day of prayers for both the Christian and Muslim communities so that all of us together will continue to intercede for God to open the gates for Ghana so that our country will prosper,” Mr Mahama said.

Choose leaders with integrity - Mahama

Mr Mahama also urged voters to be mindful of the power of leaders to make choices that affect many lives  and elect leaders they can trust to make discerning decisions. 

The NDC flag bearer stressed the crucial role of integrity and transparency in leadership, noting that leaders' decisions have far-reaching impacts. 

"Leadership is about making choices that shape lives, and it's essential to exercise discernment in decision-making, as the consequences of those choices affect countless individuals," he said. 

Mr Mahama shared his concerns about the consequences of poor leadership, citing the example of President Bush's decision to go to war, which cost many lives. 

He stressed the need to choose leaders with good character, saying, "Some come like sheep but are wolves, so we have to be careful."

He also criticised the current government's handling of the banking sector crisis as a bad choice, saying, "If I were president, I wouldn't have collapsed those banks, throwing thousands into hardship."

“You said you wanted them to raise their minimum capital requirements to Gh400 million meanwhile they had given loans to contractors that the government had not paid and if it was paid they could have raised their capital and on top of it you guaranteed the deposits of their customers which cost about $2.2 billion, Mr Mahama said. 

Peace 

The religious leaders, who welcomed Mr Mahama with cheers, praised his peaceful campaign. 

Leader of the Christian community, Rev. Seth Kwasi Mawutor said: “I have monitored your campaign and we are excited about the peaceful manner you are conducting it. So the church prays that it will continue to be peaceful during and after the election.”

They prayed for a peaceful election and presented him with a Bible, encouraging him to trust in the Lord. 

The Muslim community also expressed their support for Mr Mahama and the NDC, saying they wanted justice and peace. 

They prayed for his protection and called on the Electoral Commission to ensure a fair election.