The Weija-Gbawe Member of Parliament, Jerry Ahmed Shaib, has descended heavily on the John Mahama government over the organisation of a National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving.
Jerry Ahmed Shaib questioned the sincerity of the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving while the country faces galamsey devastation and flooding.
According to Weija-Gbawe, the National Day of Prayer and Thanksgiving is pointless when the government has repeatedly failed to match its words with action on the ground, reminding the Mahama government that God help those who help themselves.
Speaking in an interview on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, Jerry Ahmed Shaib stated, “You’ve had your ministers, ministers of state, who lost their lives just because they were going to deal with an issue of galamsey. We thought that was going to bring this government to its notice, to the extent that they were going to take a serious and critical look at galamsey.
“What is happening to galamsey? It’s become unprecedented. Everywhere you pass, there is galamsey,” he said.
He further fired shots at GoldBod CEO Sammy Gyamfi, saying, “You come and see people like Sammy Gyamfi today. He will hold his father-in-law’s funeral in a lavish and profligate manner, and then we still don’t see the need to stop all of this. Then, when people die, you come and say you are doing thanksgiving.
How long has President Mahama been president? How long has he been vice president? Let’s stop this kind of cheap politics.
He’s the most experienced person, as we speak right now, when it comes to leadership in this country. All we get is promises”, he said.
He further criticised the national prayer exercise, saying, “Then you come and stand here and dance and say you are doing thanksgiving. Do you think God does not help those who help themselves?”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has said that while prayer and faith remain important pillars of national life, they must be complemented by hard work, discipline and responsibility to transform Ghana.
Mahama made the remarks during the 2026 National Day of Prayer held in Accra on Wednesday, July 1.
He called on Ghanaians to embrace a strong work ethic and actively contribute to national development.
President Mahama cited biblical teachings highlighting that genuine faith must be accompanied by practical efforts to bring about meaningful change.
“Our national journey reminds us of an enduring truth, ‘faith without works is dead,’ says James 2:26. And prayer without responsibility cannot transform an economy. Hope without discipline cannot create prosperity.
“Throughout history, God’s people have always combined faith with hard work. When Nehemiah rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem, the people prayed but they also laboured. When Joseph prepared Egypt for the years of famine, they also planned wisely.”
President Mahama also urged Ghanaians to consciously reject bitterness, intolerance and all forms of divisive behaviour.
He called on citizens to prioritise unity, dialogue and collective hope as the country advances its national reset agenda.
Mahama argued that national progress cannot be achieved in an atmosphere of hostility, mistrust or division.
“Our constitution binds us together, our history unites us, and our future depends upon our ability to work together; therefore, let us reject bitterness, intolerance and division.
“Let us reject corruption and cynicism. Instead, let us embrace dialogue over hostility, service over self-interest, unity over division and hope over despair. No nation has ever achieved greatness by allowing its differences to define its future.”
Watch the video below:
You’ve had ministers of state lose their lives because they were going to deal with issues of galamsey.—We thought that was going to bring this government to notice and take critical action against galamsey, yet it is now unprecedented.
— SIKAOFFICIAL🦍 (@SIKAOFFICIAL1) July 1, 2026
—Weija Gbawe MP, Hon. Jerry Ahmed Shaib… pic.twitter.com/ZCFNkistlN
