SMG STATEMENT ON REPUBLIC DAY – July 1, 2024,

Following a constitutional referendum and a presidential election, Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, on July 1, 1960 (64 years ago), declared Ghana a sovereign republic committed to eradicating all vestiges of British colonial exploitation and oppression in Africa.
Therefore, on this day, and every July 1, the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) salutes the vision of that
generation of Ghanaians and the opportunity they left us to build a prosperous and equitable society.
On this day, July 1, we renew our fight against the historical opponents of democratic Republicanism. We
remind Ghanaians that the forces that aided the CIA overthrow of the first Republic in 1966 were attacking not just a political regime. They attacked democratic and egalitarian unity. They have worked since 1966 to elevate the symbols of ethnic division and the most backward forms of elitism above those of Republican egalitarianism. It is those same forces who, in their arrogant myopia, seek to downplay the significance of Republic Day and who wage a futile struggle to deny it national holiday status – futile because Ghanaians insist on, according to Republic Day, pride of place in our national calendar.
On this day, July 1, we reaffirm our own commitment to realising the Republican opportunity bequeathed to us for Ghana and for Africa, without whose total liberation our own national independence is meaningless. We stand with all Liberation forces across our continent: with the Alliance of Sahelian States fighting for dignity and pan-African unity; with the people of the Saharawi People’s Republic fighting for independence from Moroccan colonialism; with the People of Sudan subjected to deadly violence by competing neo-colonial forces; and with our brothers and sisters in the DRC facing daily slaughter just so that the West can continue to exploit its fabulous wealth while Congolese children go hungry. We stand with Africa, and we reaffirm our commitment to a Union of African States as the only way to realise and secure Africa’s sovereignty, security, and development.
On this day, July 1, we stand with the people of Western Asia (especially Gaza!) facing Israeli and US war
and genocide to entrench neo-colonialism in that region. We stand with the heroic people of Cuba and of
Venezuela facing down US tyranny. We stand with Bolivia in its attempt to build a people’s democracy! We stand with all the movements in the world struggling to create a new society free from want and conflict.

Long live the Republic of Ghana!
Long live the Union of African States!
Long live the People of the World!

Signed.

Kwesi Pratt jnr
General Secretary