His Eminence Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson has called on Ghanaians to engage in deep national introspection by revisiting the country’s historical values and milestones to shape a more just, united, and prosperous future.
Delivering the sermon at the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving on Tuesday, July 1, the internationally renowned Catholic prelate urged the nation to treat its history not merely as a record of the past, but as a compass for present choices and future direction.
“Crossroads are not unusual. We face them regularly in our individual lives and as a nation,” Cardinal Turkson said, adding that history offers the tools for discerning the best path during moments of national uncertainty.
Drawing parallels with the biblical story of Israel, he encouraged Ghanaians to reflect on the country’s founding principles, particularly “Freedom and Justice,” as a way to rediscover shared values and purpose.
“Our past holds the keys to how well we once lived and how united we once stood,” he emphasized. “Some aspects of our past are painful, others inspiring—but all of them can teach us something about how to build the common good.”
In referencing institutions like the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Cardinal Turkson recalled Ghana’s early ambitions to lead in technological and human development, urging the country not to lose sight of such goals in the face of present challenges.
He called on both the nation’s leaders and citizens to view inclusive development as a shared responsibility and to avoid policies and practices that leave segments of the population behind.
“Let us revisit our past not to dwell in nostalgia or regret, but to reset our path for the well-being of all,” he said.
Cardinal Turkson’s message struck a chord with the day’s theme, “Reflect, Reset and Renewal for National Prosperity,” reinforcing the idea that sustainable development must be anchored in national values and collective memory.
As Ghana confronts growing socio-political and economic challenges, the Cardinal’s sermon served as a timely moral appeal for unity, historical consciousness, and a renewed commitment to the ideals that once inspired the nation’s journey.
