Prez. Nana Akufo-Addo has stated that a careful look at Ghana’s history and her struggle for freedom and independence demonstrates that the country could not have been founded by one person but by the collective effort of several persons who jointly fought for the liberation of the country from British colonial rule beginning in 1897, some 127 years ago.
Addressing the Ghanaian people in a televised message aired on 3 August 2024 to commemorate Founders Day (4 August 2024), President Akufo-Addo said while he recognises the immense contribution of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah to the country’s quest for self-determination, he rejects completely the notion that he single-handedly founded Ghana.
“It is most appropriate that we have chosen this date to honor their (founding fathers) sacrifices, their resilience, and their strong dedication to the ideals of freedom and justice. I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely the notion that Ghana was founded by one man.
“Whilst Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable and unassailable, it is important to acknowledge for our self-respect that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” President Akufo-Addo remarked.
“The formation of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, the British West African National Congress jointly sponsored by Joseph K. Hayford and Thomas Hutton Mills, 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 visionary leadership, was undoubtedly a major actor in the final lap of our journey to independence. And 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 honored in our history,” Akufo-Addo further remarked.
“It is essential to recognise that Kwame Nkrumah stood on the shoulders of past leaders. The groundwork laid by the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, the British West African National Congress, the United Gold Coast Convention, and many other organisations and individuals provided the foundation upon which Kwame Nkrumah built the Convention People’s Party, CPP.
“And indeed, that is why he was careful to associate the name of his new party with that of the convention. The contributions of the leaders before him were instrumental as is natural in the continuum of history in shaping the political landscape and facilitated Kwame Nkrumah’s rise to prominence,” the President added.
The American example
Stressing further on his stands on the need to celebrate all of Ghana’s founding fathers, President Akufo-Addo indicated that “even though comparisons may be invidious, it is worth recalling that George Washington, the victorious general of America’s war of independence from British colonial rule and the first president of the United States of America is not described as the founder of the United States.”
“The accolade of the founding fathers [in the United States of America] is reserved to the group of 56 persons who assembled at the Philadelphia Convention of the Continental Congress to write and promulgate the Constitution of the United States of America,” President Akufo-Addo stated in his televised address.
Seven priority areas
In his statement, President Akufo-Addo proposed seven priority areas he believes the country and its leaders (present and future) must pay attention to if the nation is to develop and ensure equitable distribution of state resources for all persons to benefit from the same.
According to President Akufo-Addo, Ghanaian society “is becoming more inclusive with greater representation and participation from women, youth, and marginalised communities.” To this end, he pointed out that the nation must continue to implement “policies and initiatives to promote gender equality, like the recently enacted affirmative action bill, empower our youth, and protect the rights of all citizens.”
“This inclusivity is a reflection of the values of our founders and is essential for building a just and equitable society. However, we must also recognise that our journey is far from over. As we celebrate our past, we must also look to the future with a renewed sense of purpose and determination,
“We must continue to work towards building a Ghana that is equitable, free, just, and prosperous for all her citizens. Our founders envisaged a nation where every Ghanaian will have the opportunity to thrive regardless of his or her background or circumstances,” Akufo-Addo said.
“It is our duty to carry forward this vision, to build on their legacy, and to create a brighter future for ourselves and for generations to come. To achieve this, we must, in my respectful view, focus on 7 key areas,” President Akufo-Addo added.
The seven priority areas the President proposed are first; Investing in Education, secondly, prioritising health care, thirdly, pay attention to Agriculture, fourthly, advancing the country’s economic development, fifthly, intensifying the building of strong security institutions (Police, Military, etc.), sixthly, strengthening democratic institutions such as the Judiciary) and lastly, advocating national unity and cohesion.
Source: www.asaaseradio.com
