Former Ghanaian Ambassador to the United States, Ohene Agyekum, has sharply criticised President Akufo-Addo, insisting that the President needs to reconsider his stance on the history of Ghana’s independence.
In his 2024 Founders’ Day address, President Akufo-Addo rejected claims that Kwame Nkrumah single-handedly founded Ghana, emphasising that the struggle for independence was a collective effort.
Although he acknowledged Dr Nkrumah’s significant contributions, he stressed that the nation’s freedom was achieved through the efforts of many generations.
But Agyekum, who was interacting with journalists at his private residence in Kumasi on Monday (5 August) maintained that while the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) was instrumental in the early stages of the independence movement, it was Kwame Nkrumah and his Convention People’s Party (CPP) that ultimately secured Ghana’s independence in 1957.
He pointed out that members of the UGCC had actively opposed Nkrumah’s call for independence, going so far as to write letters challenging his leadership. Agyekum dismissed the ongoing debate over Founders’ Day as misguided and reiterated that Nkrumah’s role as the founding father of Ghana is undeniable.
“The UGCC was a movement, but when it came to fighting for independence, it was the CPP that achieved freedom in 1957. There are documented letters from the UGCC opposing Nkrumah’s push for independence. This debate about Founders’ Day doesn’t make sense. For President Akufo-Addo to reject the idea that Kwame Nkrumah is the founding father of this nation, he needs to go back and reconsider his stance,” Agyekum remarked.
“If I were to become a President, my first task is to change that celebration on 4 August”, he added.
Other reactions
The Founders’ Day was established to honour all who contributed to Ghana’s independence, and September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day. However, this stance has sparked protests from those who support Nkrumah’s singular role, including the CPP.
“To reject The Osagyefo as the Founder of Ghana on the weak basis that “the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations” is indeed an unfortunate gaffe, and it would have been thought His Excellency would have been more selective with his words, in these last days of the NPP administration, especially after mistakenly referring to His Excellency the former President John Dramani Mahama as his vice only a couple of days ago. The NPP is indeed a party of inaccuracies and massaging of facts on all fronts,”’ the party said in a statement.
As flagbearer of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), former President John Dramani Mahama has vowed to reinstate 1 July as a national holiday in Ghana if he wins the upcoming elections.
“Nobody can come and rewrite our history. Indeed, for those of you who don’t know it, when the Queen finally agreed to give Ghana independence, the UGCC that Nana Akufo-Addo is fighting to be recognised as founders of Ghana wrote a petition. They sent people to England to tell the queen not to grant independence because we are not ready yet,” he said.
Akufo-Addo’s defence
The president has however maintained his stance, opposing the notion that an individual founded Ghana.
Speaking on the matter at the senior citizen’s luncheon at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo noted, “I know that there are some who question the ceremony – that is 4th August as Founders’ Day, because they believe that we were all asleep in Ghana until the arrival of Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP.”
“I have already stated my views on that several times, including in my speech last Saturday evening. I don’t intend to go over that matter again,” he said.
Reporting By Jonathan Ofori, Asaase Newsroom, Kumasi
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