The 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. 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 was chosen to replace "Lift High The Flag Of Ghana" which had been officially adopted after independence and used as Ghana's National Anthem during Nkrumah's regime.
Lyrics
Original lyrics
The current text was chosen some time after the 1966 coup in Ghana. Philip Gbeho’s text that was discarded at that time started with: Lord God our Father we pray thee, Be thou our guide in all our ways, May we unite together, proclaim the dawn of our new day! Children of Ghana arise and uphold your cause And blaze the trail of freedom far and wide, O God our Father harken to our call and bring us peace here in our fatherland.
Current lyrics
The 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, and is accompanied by Ghana's national pledge. Thus, the officially current lyrics of "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana" are as follows:
First stanza
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. Messages were sent to various Ghanaian government agencies, and was also discussed on air at the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation, Uniiq FM programme PTGlive, on 9 March 2008.
I promise on my honour To be faithful and loyal to Ghana my motherland. I pledge myself to the service of Ghana With all my strength and with all my heart. I promise to hold in high esteem. Our heritage, won for us through the blood and toil of our fathers; and I pledge myself in All things to uphold and defend the good name of Ghana. So help me God. The National Pledge of Ghana is recited immediately after "God Bless Our Homeland Ghana".
