President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has taken a swipe at a section of the public who have criticised his decision to set August 4 as the Founders’ Day to commemorate the founding fathers of the country.
The president indicated that people who chastise his decision to set August 4 as the Founders’ Day are not aware of the country’s complete struggle for independence.
He said that such people think that the entire country was doing nothing before Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, came in to lead the country’s struggle for independence, graphic.com.gh has said.
“I am aware that some Ghanaians who questioned my commitment to 4th August as Founders’ Day believe that we were all asleep in Ghana until the arrival of Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP,” he said.
Akufo-Addo added that he had already stated his views on that several times, including in his speech last Saturday evening, and that he did not intend to go over that matter again.
He indicated that the celebration of Dr Nkrumah on his birthday is enough honour, and it is hoped that August 4 is maintained as the founders’ day.
“Suffice it to say that I believe that the consensus that Parliament arrived at in 2019, honouring Kwame Nkrumah with a Memorial Day and preserving the historical importance and significance of August 4th in our history, is a good consensus, and it deserves to last,” President Akufo-Addo added.
President Akufo-Addo came under intense scrutiny when he disclosed his resolve not to accept the notion held by some Ghanaians that Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah is the sole founder of the country.
In his speech ahead of the commemoration of Founders’ Day on August 4, 2024, President Akufo-Addo said that while Kwame Nkrumah played an integral role in the country’s drive towards independence, it is erroneous and untenable to accord him the privilege of being the founder of Ghana.
“I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” the President said in his broadcast.
President Akufo-Addo enumerated some people who he believes were integral in the fight towards independence and deserve to be celebrated alongside Kwame Nkrumah.
“The formation of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, the British West African National Congress, the United Gold Coast Convention, the work of countless unsung heroes, and the tenacious spirit of our people all played vital parts in bringing us to freedom and independence.
“Kwame Nkrumah, with his charismatic and visionary leadership, was undoubtedly a major actor in the final lap of our journey to independence. That is why, despite the several unfortunate things that happened after independence under his watch, Parliament in 2019 decided to memorialise his date of birth as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, the only Ghanaian so far to be so honoured in our history,” he added.
Parliament passed a law in 2019 establishing August 4 as Founders’ Day and September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
While August 4 aims to celebrate the collective works that culminated in Ghana’s independence, September 21 is reserved for Kwame Nkrumah.
