The National Pledge of Ghana is an Oath of allegiance to the Republic of Ghana , and it is mostly recited immediately after “God Bless Our Homeland Ghana”. As I was growing up, I began to grasp the clear understanding of having to recite the national pledge. There is more to it than a mere formality of just reciting every morning at schools’ parade and formal functions. Majority of us will agree that both children and even adults irrespective of our statuses are shallow minded about the national pledge. School children will always be ready to sing along to fulfill the daily curricular as some adults won’t even remember their lines as they have a lot on their mind to handle. Have you ever thought of why the national pledge is almost always recited after the national anthem?
In our anthem, we make a passionate prayer unto God to steer the affairs of our land as well as strengthen us to be the good citizens we ought to be. “Fill our hearts with true humility…” we always pray. Hence, after making the solemn prayer, we vow to God and our country that we will be faithful enough to seek the well-being of our land by every priceless efforts of ours. Placing your right hand over your heart whilst making this solemn vow is as significant as being protected by the laws of our country.
This position, one might think, is a tradition that goes with reciting the pledge. By doing that, you promise to work from your heart by using your hand in supporting the development of our country. Also, the heart signifies love and loyalty, thus, with love for your country, you make this vow and by your loyalty, you will fulfill your promise to the land.
Now, the question is, how do we play our part as patriotic citizens after we ask God to play His part as we also play our parts. Nevertheless, an agreement is an agreement, and our agreement with God is no exception.
How do we promise on our honour when we are not even proud and honored to be Ghanaians and wish we weren’t born Ghanaians just because we think foreigners are living in comfort and luxury as portrayed, underestimating ourselves and thinking they have an advantage over us?
How on earth can we be faithful and loyal to our motherland when we are all struggling for our individual betterment and so would rob our motherland to beautify our lives and call that “the survival of the fittest”? We are elated to be fit to outsmart and cheat on our dear motherland, Ghana, and yet, we tag others as the unfaithful and corrupt ones since our deeds remain in our closets undiscovered.
How else do we pledge ourselves to the service of our country when even National Service Personnel like me wouldn’t accept their place of posting because it is too far and in deprived areas they never dreamt existed, and our readiness to claim allowances for the least thing we do for our countries even if we have to go to the extent of demonstrating and striking to get the government to hear us? And yet, we boast nothing is for free. I doubt if we are ever ready to contribute to the development of our motherland with all our strength and with all our heart. A part of our heart and strength might be enough.
How can we then follow the paths of our fathers by holding in high esteem our heritage won for us when we are not in any way ready to lay down our lives for Ghana, our dear motherland as we would rather sit unconcerned and even partake in the destruction of our heritage secured by our fathers’ toil, thinking, it is the state’s responsibility and not ours to sustain or better still, build upon our heritage won for us? And yet, we complain the “now Ghana is not the same as then Ghana”.
How can we pledge ourselves in all things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana when we will do anything for the sake our preferred political parties to be voted into power at the expense of our country, allowing all forms of loose and menacing talks, all in the name of democracy?
How in God’s name can He help us when we are negative towards our own land and crave for its downfall indirectly?
Kindly consider and know that, it will do us much good if we can change from our unacceptable attitude towards our country, regardless our location, position or status attained. We are Ghana and Ghana is us. Hence, we must live by our promise to God, our fathers and our motherland, by doing our parts leaving no stone unturned. And for those of us who might have forgotten:
I promise on my honour to be faithful and loyal to Ghana my Motherland.
I pledge myself to the service of Ghana, with all my strength and with all my heart.
I promise to hold in high esteem our heritage, won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers;
and I pledge myself in all things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana.
So help me God.
PEACE!