Open letter to the Citizenry on Respect for National anthem/symbols as civic/patriotic responsibilities

Fellow Ghanaians, the need for respect to the National Anthem and other National symbols has been brought to the front burner due to two recent incidents. These two recent incidents were firstly the expressing of anger by President Nana Akuffo Addo when he saw an invited guest remained seated when the National anthem was being played before the start of the program of Green Ghana Day Celebration on 09 June 2023. So he had to direct Hon Henry Quartey, the Greater Region Minister to prompt the affected person to stand up. In this incident the affected persons claimed he was weak or not well and has since then rendered an apology.

The next incident was/is a video which depicted an alleged uncouth behavior of one of the beautiful daughters of President Nana Akuffo Addo namely Edwina Naana Dokua Akuffo-Addo during the 30^th anniversary commemoration of the death of her dear mother at Mampong, the deceased reportedly as the first wife of President Nana Akuffo Addo. The video depicted/ depicts Edwina Naana Dokua busy on her phone and gesticulating or something worth same whilst standing side by side the President when the National Anthem was being played.

Fellow Citizens, it is wondered who she was on phone with at such a solemn function to honor her dear mother and at a period which also demanded respect for the National anthem, the fallen heroes as well as respect for her dead mother. Furthermore the apparent uncouth act has courted huge embarrassment to the President of Ghana, thus she made her father to be subjected to public ridicule as a likely hypocrite for his unfairness act to the Chief of Mempeasem. It was therefore unfortunate that President Nana Akuffo Addo failed to emulate the genuine respect type of President Putin of Russia has for his Country’s National anthem, when in a video he was/is seen directing his host by name Elena, an official of Gazprom Neft to keep quite and come to order when the Russia National anthem was played to his or their hearing since too since Elena the host stood closed to the President when he was in a boat a t time he visited the Petroleum Refinery Company on 18 June 2023.

These two incidents have motivated this submission to help inculcate the sense of civic and patriotic responsibilities in the citizenry. This submission would make an attempt to cover National anthem and National symbol of Ghana, why respect for the National anthem and National symbols, the occasion the National anthem is sung or played/restriction on the National anthem, what is required of the citizenry or the civic and patriotic responsibilities in the citizenry when National anthem is sung or played

National symbols of Ghana and National anthem

Fellow Citizens, the National symbols bring us together to instill unity in diversity. The National symbols include the National Flag, the Mace of Parliament, the Coat of Arms, National pledge, and National monument. The National anthem is both National and International representation of a Nation.

Importance of National symbols and National anthem

Respect for National symbol is by way of appreciating or acknowledging the sacrifices and contributions of those who have served and continue to serve the Country, as well as to express collective or shared aims with the nation’s values and ideals, consequently standing at attention could bolster sense of unity and belonging within the citizenry

National symbols of Ghana and as Sense of National identity

Fellow Citizens, a Nation is known by the name if written or those who can read to identify it. A Nation is also known by her symbol especially the National Flag if flown so that a person who cannot read or write can see his or her National Flag and thus identify his or her nation and rally behind it. Finally, a Nation is known by her National Anthem so that a person who cannot see but can hear the tune would be in the position to identify his or her nation anthem.

National anthem is meant to express thank you to both the fallen heroes who fought for the freedom and building of the Nation and the subsequent personnel of the security services who performed/are performing duties 24/7 in order to ensure National Peace and Tranquility.

It must be made clear that Peace is not the absence of conflict but the prevention of conflict by productive options for responding alternatives to passive or aggressive responses which are alternative to violence. Hence Peace has to be fashioned by National Security in order to maintain same. Consequently, Peace is a product of Service, Strength, Allegiance, Will, Empathy, and Justice and not by passivity.

So, we need to be very thankful to the fallen heroes and the security personnel who sacrifice their life and time and are sacrificing same respectively that ensured National Peace and Tranquility in the past and are currently ensuring same respectively.

National Anthem serves as National Sovereignty song to signify the identity of a Nation, our sense of pride, demo of Allegiance to the Nation and signify the period to demo Esprit de corps (Solidarity) and Solemnness, it denotes readiness for mobilization for a cause like our National Football Team Black Star in a World cup Competition. Hence, the citizenry unless sick or weak or in wheel chair bound, must stand up, be in upright position and If and only If that you can sing properly, then sing along otherwise remain quite when the National Anthem is played or sung for you to be imbued with the spirit or temperament from the anthem .

Classification of the expressing of the National Anthem

Fellow Citizens, the National Anthem as stated is a sign state sovereignty and it , is classified into three categories namely, firstly expressing of the safety of the President, as the Head of State, Head of National Executive, the National Appointing Authority and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed security services, the Supreme Battle Commander in War time, Hence, the National Anthem is played or sung immediately on the arrival and before the departure of the President (All Security Personnel from the CDS, Service Commanders, the IGP and below those with Weapons must present Arms must demo their loyalty to the General in National or General Salute and the National Anthem is played or sung respect and thank you the fallen Heroes and subsequent security personnel.

The Salutation in thee security services beside sign of respect it is indicative of loyalty hence no harm to the President. That is his or her safety is guaranteed by his or her troops. Secondly, expressing of the battles fought by the Nations n thirdly expressing of patriotic sentiment. In September 2014, President Putin of Russia sheared tears during Kremlin Concert dedicated to police officers who died in line of duty this was indicated as to maintain hormonal equilibrium

Content of the Lyrics and Elucidation of Attitude

The lyrics contain various themes namely the theme of the right to freedom, theme of prompt boldness, theme of resistance to oppression rule. The National Anthem elucidates sense of Honesty, Humility, Service, and Accountability.

Origin of National Anthem of Ghana,

Lift high the Flag of Ghana composed by Dr Philip Gbeho was the original National Anthem given to Ghana on attainment of Independence on 06 March 1957, by the then Prime Minister Dr Kwame Nkrumah. He directed it should be sung during mass functions. The current one is God Bless Our Homeland Ghana written in 1970 by now Prof (Dr) Michael Kwame Gbordzoe then student of Bishop Herman College and it was adopted since 1970. Google for Michael Kwame Gbordzoe said he wrote the lyrics published in Modern Ghana dated 04 -04-2009 or Google for National Anthem of Ghana National Anthem of Ghana

Occasions it is sung/played and restriction

it can be sung/played at functions especially mass functions including sporting events and or official ceremonies but with dignity and no restriction of the time of it is sung/played, so any time but with dignity. Sung/played at official ceremonies of the President especially on arrival of the President and before his departure he or she receives national or general salute. It is sung/played when regimental color is presented to a regiment, when the Nation Flag is brought on parade. It is sung/played when hoisting the Flag and not lowering it. It is sung/played before the President address the Nation and immediately after addressing the Nation.

Fellow Citizens, as indicated no restriction of time to play but not to be incorporated into any other composition but we need to sing it with respect while standing at attention but care must be taken to sing it in Full and Flawlessly that is with respect refrain from singing or playing it indiscriminately observing due dignity. Journalists or the Media especially Joy News on Campus Joy News must stop the habit of joking with the pride of the National Anthem of Ghana by asking people sitting to sing National Anthem of Ghana Infact she (host of Campus Joy News) should respect the National Anthem by joking with it hence he must desist from even asking people to Sing it especially if the cannot sing it. Protection of public property is a constitutional imperative

When to stand up
Fellow Citizens, Point to remember is that a National anthem is about national pride so one must show respect to the Country. Hence need to Maintain of decorum, the reason for the requirement to stand up, eyes stare to National Flag if around if none keep straight, sing along if you can. Salutation by security personnel in the head gear or brace up

When normally stand on the entrance of the President, the Speaker of Parliament, the Pope, when a when bride walk down the aisle, when Lady walks into room of primarily men, state funeral as and when directed when Flag hoisting and lowering the Flag

So since the National Anthem of your Country is symbol of identity and represents the citizenry you are expected to stand up solemnly/silently to evoke respect and honor on you the person standing. Also Stand up when that of a Foreign Country is being played during an activity which you are one of their audiences since the golden rule of diplomacy or etiquette is do unto others what you want them to do unto you.

So it is very important that person participating or very close to Standing Up, when the National Anthem is being played at military ceremonies, Republic day, and national level event like sporting. You should stand up when the National anthem of a foreign Country is being played at events which you are part of it.

Fellow Citizens, If you are not weak, or wheel chair bound or If you are not exercising your protest right then Stand Up when you are part of the Audience or the activity where National Anthem is being played and you should be on upright position till the end to give respect and evoke a sign of humility and as symbolic subjugation to the system that maintains you.

At any given playing time, the National Anthem has a specific audience. People outside the Facility where the National anthem is being played need not stand up. You are not to stand up when you hear National anthem from radio.

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