His Excellency President John Dramani Mahama has emphasized that the leadership that ensures its governance is backed by justice can create a just nation.

Delivering his speech at the National Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer today, July 1, held at the forecourt of the State House, noted that leadership must be grounded in justice, honesty, and in reverence for God.

The president mentioned that the Office of the President is not a privilege for personal gain but a sacred trust bestowed by the people and the responsibility to serve all, especially the most vulnerable.

"Even the office of the president, which even by the grace of God I now hold, is not above the law. Leadership must be grounded in justice, in honesty, and in reverence of God. If we want a just Ghana, we must be just in leadership," he told Ghanaians at the national ceremony.

The government led members of the general public to observe the country's maiden National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving under the theme "Reflect, Reset, and Renew for National Prosperity."

The event included two separate services. The Christian service took place at the forecourt of the State House.

It was led by His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson, the Chancellor of the Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Social Sciences.

At the ceremony, His Eminence Peter Cardinal Kodwo Appiah Turkson entreated all and sundry to unite and work for the developed nation they dream about.

According to him, "the transformation of this land will not be a task for just the president."

"With all the good intentions that he may have, the transformation of this land depends on us. We must not only be religious but also spiritual. So for all of us gathered here, I just like to tell you that biblical religion says one thing about all of us. It means that our belief in God entails our vision of the world and our place in that vision,” he added.

On his part, Archbishop Nicholas Duncan-Williams, Founder and General Overseer of Action Chapel International, called for a national agenda to be established to sustain the growth and development of successive governments.

Meanwhile, the Muslim version of the thanksgiving service was held at the National Mosque of Ghana in Accra at 12:30 pm the same day in Accra.

It was led by the National Chief Imam of Ghana, Sheikh Osmanu Nuhu Sharubutu who in his speech, entreated all to show immense gratitude to Allah for the blessings he has bestowed upon the country.

“Indeed, it is a principle divine that when God grants you his favours, you are obliged, irresistibly to show him gratitude,” the Chief Imam satsted.

In attendance to the national event were Vice President Prof Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin, Members of Parliament, Ministers of State, traditional authorities and other renowned dignitaries.