"God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" is the national anthem of Ghana; it was adopted in 1957 when Ghana declared its independence from the United Kingdom.
![]() The lyrics of "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" above an orchestral reduction sheet music of the National Symphony Orchestra Ghana. | |
National anthem of ![]() | |
Lyrics | Michael Kwame Gbordzoe |
---|---|
Music | Philip Gbeho |
Adopted | 1957 |
Audio sample | |
U.S. Navy Band instrumental version (one verse) |
History
editThe music for the national anthem was originally composed by Philip Gbeho and sung to lyrics written by Emmanuel Pappoe-Thompson. However the words were revised by a literary committee in the Office of the then head of state, Kwame Nkrumah.[1] Michael Kwame Gbordzoe has made claims to the current lyrics being used saying that it was written by him after the overthrow of President Nkrumah. A competition was held and Kwame Gbordzoe, who was then a student at Bishop Herman College, presented the current lyrics which were chosen to replace "Lift High The Flag Of Ghana"[2][3] which had been officially adopted after independence and used as Ghana's national anthem during Nkrumah's presidency.[4]
Lyrics
editCurrent lyrics
editThe current lyrics of the "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" national anthem that has been in use since the 1970s were written by Michael Kwame Gbordzoe while a student within the framework of a national competition,[5] and is accompanied by Ghana's national pledge.
Thus, the official current lyrics of "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" are as follows:[5]
English lyrics | Twi translation | Ewe translation |
---|---|---|
I |
I |
I |
Thus, although Philip Gbeho’s composition is still being used, the current lyrics beginning "God Bless our Homeland Ghana" do not originate from him.
Michael Kwame Gbordzoe, who became a scientist by profession, has drawn the attention of the Ghana Government to the fact that although his lyrics have been adopted for the country’s national anthem since the 1970s, there has so far been no official Ghana Government recognition for his work, which may be attributed to the abrupt changes in regimes in Ghana in the past.[6][7]
Messages were sent to various Ghanaian government agencies, and was also discussed on air at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC), Uniiq FM programme PTGlive, on 9 March 2008.
National Pledge of Ghana
editThe National Pledge of Ghana is recited immediately after "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana".
References
edit- ^ "Emmanuel Pappoe Thompson". Ghanaweb.
- ^ "Here is the original lyrics of Ghana's National Anthem". GhanaWeb. 9 April 2022. Archived from the original on 6 March 2023. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "1. Lift high the flag of Ghana". www.nationalanthems.info. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
- ^ "Who Owns the Ghana National Anthem". justiceghana.com.
- ^ a b "Ghana National Anthem". Ghanaembassy. Archived from the original on 17 August 2014. Retrieved 9 June 2014.
- ^ "Who Owns The Ghana National Anthem", GhanaWeb, 18 August 2009.
- ^ "German-based Ghanaian says he wrote lyrics of anthem and pledge", Modern Ghana, 4 April 2009.
External links
edit- Ghana: "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" - audio of the national anthem of Ghana, with information and lyrics (archive link)
- Ghana national anthem, instrumental version
- Ghana national anthem, vocal version
- "Hail the name of Ghana" - MIDI Instrumental