Nana Ohene Ntow, special advisor to independent presidential candidate Alan Kyerematen, strongly endorsed Kyerematen’s vision for Ghana, emphasizing that his Great Transformational Plan (GTP) represents the country’s crucial change.
Speaking on the Key Points program on TV3, Ohene Ntow highlighted that the GTP is designed to stabilize and strengthen Ghana’s economy, aiming to create jobs and reduce reliance on foreign borrowing.
“The Great Transformational Plan will stabilize the economy, make it strong, and eliminate the need for excessive borrowing,” he asserted. “This is the kind of transformative change Ghanaians need.”
Ohene Ntow also expressed dismay at President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s focus on historical debates, particularly the Founders’ Day designation, rather than current economic challenges.
He criticized the president for prioritizing discussions on the Founders’ Day designation, a day that celebrates the founding fathers of Ghana, amid ongoing economic difficulties.
“It is miserable that President Akufo-Addo is leading the country in this direction,” he said.
Given the severe economic situation we are grappling with, including high unemployment and inflation rates, the preoccupation with changing Founders’ Day to Founders’ Day seems misplaced.
Echoing similar sentiments, Professor Baffuor Agyeman-Duah, a former Senior Advisor at the United Nations, warned against the distraction of historical debates when pressing economic issues are at hand.
“We should channel our energies into addressing the pressing challenges, especially in the economy, rather than engaging in debates about rewriting our history,“ he stated, underlining the urgency of the situation.
“Our focus should be on developing a resilient economy that is not overly dependent on the global market,” he stressed, highlighting the need for economic stability.
These comments come in response to President Akufo-Addo’s recent statements rejecting the idea that a single individual founded Ghana.
In his Founders’ Day address on August 3, 2024, President Akufo-Addo emphasized that Ghana’s independence resulted from a collective effort involving multiple individuals and groups, not solely Dr Kwame Nkrumah, fostering a sense of national unity and pride.
He acknowledged Nkrumah’s significant role but stressed that the contributions of other leaders and groups were equally crucial in the nation’s journey to independence.
The debate over Ghana’s historical recognition has sparked significant discussion and division.
In 2019, Parliament established August 4 as Founders’ Day to honour all contributors to Ghana’s independence struggle and designated September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
This decision was met with protests from those who believed in Nkrumah’s singular role in the country’s founding.
As Ghana approaches its elections, its focus on historical debates and economic policy remains contentious.
Ohene Ntow and Professor Agyeman-Duah’s comments reflect a growing frustration among some Ghanaians who feel that addressing immediate economic challenges should precede historical discourse.
