- Founders’ Day, 4th August, is a national public holiday observed to commemorate the contributions of all the people, notably the “Big Six” who led the struggle for Ghana’s independence. Members of the “Big Six” are Edward Akufo-Addo, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Kwame Nkrumah, William Ofori Atta, and Ebenezer Ako-Adjei.
- Formerly, the Founders’ Day was celebrated on 21st September, which is the birth date of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The day was called Founder’s Day (not Founders’ Day) with the letter “s” appearing after an apostrophe and it was celebrated to earmark the achievements of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
- However, President Akufo-Addo believes that all the “Big Six” (3 of whom are his direct family relatives) should be honoured because they all contributed to the struggle for independence. These 3 relatives are Edward Akufo Addo (his father), JB Danquah (Grand uncle) and Ofori Atta (uncle), hence he wants to honour them. In fact, 4th August is the day UGCC was formed. Apart from that, the date has no significant record or impact on the Independence Day struggle.
- Clearly, Akufo-Addo’s decision to make 4th August a National Holiday is to credit his family members as the Founders of Ghana. But, three facts must be made clear.
(a) In 1949, Kwame Nkrumah was “sacked” from the UGCC and he formed his own party, CPP. 8 years later (in 1957), Nkrumah attained independence for Ghana. Actually, Nkrumah realised that the leaders of UGCC (which has become the NPP today) were not ready to genuinely fight for the independence of Ghana. While Nkrumah was chanting, “Self-governance NOW”, they were chanting, “Self-governance within the shortest possible time” (with no clear timeline).
(b) Only Kwame Nkrumah (whose socialist ideology is adopted by today’s NDC) struggled for independence with support from the “ordinary” Ghanaian. In fact, Nkrumah used illiterates, the youths and passionate Ghanaians to struggle for independence. He realized that leaders of UGCC were not ready to fight but rather enjoying selfish benefits from the Colonial masters. Actually, Nkrumah’s biggest enemies were the leaders of UGCC (today’s NPP). They resisted him fiercely and even imprisoned him. Nkrumah won the elections to become Ghana’s first President while he was still in jail.
(c) Nkrumah is the first President of Ghana. No amount of malice can erase this fact. Nkrumah is respected across the entire African continent and even the world with monuments in Germany, Congo, Kenya, etc named after him. In all the credible History books on the Leaders of Africa, Nkrumah’s name and his works feature predominantly.
- In fact, aside the struggle for independence, Nkrumah’s legacies such as the Tema Motorway, Akosombo Dam, Legon, KNUST, over 50 Secondary Schools, Bank of Ghana, GCB, ADB, SSNIT, Korle-Bu, Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Komenda Sugar Factory, among several other legacies are still in use today. No amount of fact-twisting can discredit Nkrumah’s sweats.
- While Nkrumah was struggling to FIX THE COUNTRY, where was the so-called “Big Six”? They were opposing him and plotting his overthrow. Today, we are forced to downplay the works and achievements of Nkrumah and rather celebrate Ako Adjei, Edward Akufo Addo, JB Danquah and Ofori Atta. Apart from paying for Nkrumah’s flight ticket to Ghana, what else did they do in the independence struggle such that a National Holiday be instituted in their honour?
- Every attempt is made by the NPP to erase Kwame Nkrumah from Ghana’s history. Apart from changing the Founder’s Day Holiday from 21st September (birthday of Nkrumah) to 4th August (formation of UGCC), the NPP has also passed an Act against the celebration of 1st July as a National Holiday. 1st July is Republic Day, it is the day Ghana had her first democratically elected President, that is, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. After celebrating this day as a National Holiday for about 60 years, this NPP says it should no longer be celebrated as a Holiday.
But regardless, Nkrumah lives on, the facts cannot be twisted.
Thank you,
By Counsellor Daniel Fenyi