'Freedom is never a gift; It is earned through sacrifice, sustained by vigilance' — Mahama tells Jamaican Parliament
President John Dramani Mahama has declared that freedom is never handed to a people but must be won through sacrifice and protected through constant vigilance and unity.
Addressing a joint sitting of the Jamaican Parliament during his state visit on Tuesday, August 4, President Mahama used Jamaica's Emancipation Day and Independence celebrations to reflect on the shared history of Ghana, Jamaica and the wider African diaspora, describing the occasion as "a reunion of history" rather than a routine diplomatic event.
“Our gathering here today is much more than a diplomatic engagement. It is a reunion of history. It is a celebration of our shared heritage, and a reaffirmation that although the Atlantic Ocean separates us, it can never diminish the bonds that unite our people,” he said.
President Mahama noted that the relationship between Ghana and Jamaica was founded on shared struggles and common ideals rather than diplomatic agreements alone.
“The relationship between Ghana and Jamaica is unlike many others in the community of nations. It was not forged by treaties alone. It was forged through shared sacrifice, sustained by resilience, strengthened in unity, and inspired by freedom, justice, unity and dignity,” he stated.
He recalled that Ghana was the first country to recognise Jamaica after it attained independence and said the historical and cultural ties between the two nations continue to grow stronger.
Congratulating Jamaica on its Emancipation Day and the 64th anniversary of its independence, President Mahama said the country's resilience and achievements continue to inspire Africa, the Caribbean and the global African diaspora.
“Today as Jamaica commemorates Emancipation Day and celebrates the 64th anniversary of independence, Ghana joins you in honouring the remarkable journey of a proud people whose courage, creativity and resilience continue to inspire the whole of Africa, the Caribbean and the global African diaspora,” he said.
The President stressed that Emancipation Day and Independence Day represent more than national celebrations, describing them as enduring symbols of humanity's determination to overcome oppression and reclaim dignity.
“Emancipation Day and Independence Day are not simply national celebrations. They are enduring reminders of humanity's determination to overcome oppression and reclaim dignity. They remind us that even in the darkest chapters of history, nothing can extinguish the human spirit,” he noted.
Tracing Jamaica's origins to Africa, President Mahama said the country's story began with the great African civilisations long before the transatlantic slave trade.
“The story of Jamaica is, in many respects, the story of Africa. It began in the great civilisations of our continent, the empires of Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Great Zimbabwe, Uganda, Ashanti, Benin, Ile-Ife and many others,” he said.
He recounted how millions of Africans were forcibly taken across the Atlantic but refused to abandon their identity, traditions and culture despite the brutality of slavery.
“Millions of Africans were taken across the Atlantic, endured the horrors of war, survived the brutality of enslavement, but found hope in communities in the New World that refused to surrender their identity, culture, traditions and beliefs,” he said.
President Mahama praised enslaved Africans and their descendants for resisting oppression and ensuring that future generations inherited hope rather than bondage.
“They resisted oppression in countless ways, ensuring that future generations would inherit not slavery but hope,” he added.
Drawing parallels between Jamaica's Maroon communities and Africa's liberation movements, he said both reflected a shared legacy of resistance that ultimately led to political freedom.
“From the Maroon communities of Jamaica to the liberation movements that swept across Africa, the spirit of resistance of Africans endured. It ultimately gave birth to free nations that were determined to shape their own future,” he stated.
The President also paid tribute to enslaved Africans, abolitionists and independence campaigners whose sacrifices paved the way for the freedoms enjoyed today.
“Today we honour the enslaved men and women who were displaced from rich empires while their humanity was denied. We honour those who fought for emancipation, self-determination and national liberation. We honour the generations who sacrificed to secure the freedom that we enjoy today,” he said.
Concluding his address, President Mahama urged Jamaicans and Africans alike to remain committed to preserving the hard-won freedoms secured by previous generations.