President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized that freedom should never be regarded as a gift, but as a hard-won achievement secured through sacrifice, vigilance, and unity.
Addressing a joint sitting of the Jamaican Parliament on Tuesday, August 4, during his state visit to the Caribbean nation, the President urged countries to honour the sacrifices of those who fought against slavery, colonialism and oppression by safeguarding the freedoms they won.
“Their courage reminds us that freedom is never a gift. It is earned through sacrifice. It is sustained by vigilance. And it is strengthened by unity,” he stressed.
President Mahama made the remarks as Jamaica commemorated Emancipation Day and celebrated its 64th Independence Anniversary, describing the occasion as a reminder of the resilience and determination of people who overcame centuries of oppression.
He noted that the bond between Ghana and Jamaica extends beyond diplomatic relations, saying it is rooted in a shared history of struggle, resilience and the pursuit of justice.
“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 observed that the relationship between the two countries was shaped by common sacrifices rather than formal 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 gained independence and said both nations continue to share enduring historical and cultural ties.
Congratulating the Jamaican people on their national celebrations, the President praised their courage and resilience, saying their story continues 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.
Mahama described Emancipation Day and Independence Day as enduring symbols of humanity’s determination to reclaim dignity and overcome injustice.
“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 stressed.
Reflecting on Jamaica’s historical roots, the President said the nation’s story began in the great civilisations of Africa 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 explained.
He recounted the suffering endured by millions of Africans who were forcibly taken across the Atlantic, noting that despite unimaginable hardship, they preserved their identity and cultural heritage.
“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 commended enslaved Africans and their descendants for resisting oppression and ensuring that hope triumphed over slavery.
“They resisted oppression in countless ways, ensuring that future generations would inherit not slavery but hope,” he stated.
He also drew comparisons between Jamaica’s Maroon communities and Africa’s liberation movements, saying both embodied the enduring spirit of resistance that ultimately produced free nations.
“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 noted.
Paying tribute to enslaved Africans, abolitionists and independence fighters, Mahama said their sacrifices laid the foundation for the freedoms enjoyed across the world 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.
