Mr Francis Quarme Mawutor, Country Director -Action For Peace Project (AFPP), an NGO has said bringing to bear on the Ghanaian political terrain the national anthem and the pledge backed with spiritual awareness the country would make tremendous progress in her development agenda.
He said because the country had for far too long deviated from its fortress - the national anthem and the pledge things have become so difficult for Ghanaians to find grips on the ground.
Mr Mawutor who made the observation in a press release copied to the Ghana News Agency said it should be the objectives of Ghanaians as a nation to remind themselves of the relevance of the national anthem and pledges in serving the nation faithfully so as to achieve the better Ghana agenda especially with the new ministers.
He stated that Ghana will turn 56 on March 6, 2013, after she had solemnly been "baptized" under the name of independence on March 6, 1957. She was called Gold Coast until that faithful day of independence.
"This transformation was no mean a struggle for the gallant forefathers of the land. These brave men really fought a bloody fight to officially gain self-rule from the British Colonial masters, a colony to the Great Britain from 1844 to 1957."
Mr Mawutor said on March 6, 1957 a new national flag was hoisted by the country men and women, whiles that for the colonial masters lowered. The new national flag is in the colours of Red, Gold, Green and a Black Star in the Middle, all with significant symbolisations.
The Red stands for the bloodshed by the forefathers; the Gold stands for the rich mineral resources of the land; the Green stands for the nation's vegetation and the Black Star stands for the Hope of Africa.
The Country Director stated that a newly prepared national anthem for the new nation was melodiously sung; "God bless our homeland Ghana. And make our nation great and strong. Bold to defend forever the course of freedom and of right. Fill our hearts with true humility, make us cherish fearless honesty. And help us to resist oppressors rule with all our will and might forever more," and is been played at national and international event.
"To make this invaluable citation stick with Ghanaian people, it was made enforceable compulsory for every 1st and 2nd cycle schools across the length and breadth of the nation to recite every day, at morning assembly."
Mr Mawutor said in spite of these two insightful citations upon which the country was established, leaders in all capacity are sworn-in to office under another strong solemnity: "I in the name of the Almighty God swear, solemnly affirm that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the Republic of Ghana as by law established; that I will uphold the sovereignty and integrity of Ghana; and that I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Ghana. So help me God."
He was of the believe that if the oath, together with the national anthem and the pledge - a fortress upon which the state Ghana was built, were to be adhered to, Ghana will have been second to none on the surface of the earth, in terms of both physical and spiritual developments.
"For any nation determined to obtain physical infrastructure and amenities for the masses without concrete intention of spiritual development is bound to see no light at the end of the tunnel," he stated.
"Progress in human life is realised if spiritual development is ensured. And this is a simple realisation of the fact that 'you're a spiritual being'. And the spirit being dwells inside of you. Experiencing this Fact, and not just believing in it, keeps you 'bold to defend' yourself and your nation against any forms of attack."
Mr Mawutor said unfortunately the leaders of the nation have fallen short of the notion of strengthening spiritual development in themselves let alone inculcate it into the masses.
He said the destitution of this laudable idea has utterly caused the nation in many folds, adding that the country's development is nothing to write home about, but for a mere reason that she functions in Africa where political matters are really problematic to deal with, she has been christened the beacon of Africa's democracy.
"Though Ghana's political path has seen itself through sordid and thorny journey, where military interventions of the nation's administration became a jollity for the men and officers of the Armed Forces, she struggled and landed herself on a long lasting democratic ground.
"For over 20 years, democracy has striven in Ghana, where political power has changed hand a couple of times from one political party to another, though with some hitches sometimes," he said.
Mr Mawutor said President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians in his inaugural address, to remain as one people in "partnership", but not divided in "partisanship".
He said that could be achievable if the citizenry are made to be bold to defend forever the course of freedom and of right; fill their hearts with true humility and to make them cherish fearless honesty; and help them resist the oppressors agenda with all their will and their might.
"And also, make them remember to promise on their honour to be faithful and loyal to Ghana their Motherland; they must promise to hold in high esteem the heritage won for them, through the blood and toil of their fathers; and they must pledge in all things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana, so God will help Ghana," he concluded.