The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has strongly criticised President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his remarks regarding the founding of Ghana.
The CPP contends that Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s First President, is universally recognised as the nation’s founder.
In a statement released in response to President Akufo-Addo’s Founders’ Day address on August 3, the CPP accused the President of distorting historical facts.
The party disapproved of Akufo-Addo’s assertion that Ghana’s founding should not be attributed to a single individual, emphasising that Dr Nkrumah played a pivotal role in the country’s independence.
“To dismiss Dr Nkrumah as the Founder of Ghana based on the argument that ‘the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations‘ is an unfortunate misjudgment,“ the CPP statement read.
“It is surprising that His Excellency would make such a statement, especially following his recent mix-up regarding former President John Dramani Mahama.”
The CPP’s statement underscores that Dr Nkrumah, often called “The Osagyefo,“ founded Ghana and named it after the historic Ghana Empire on March 6, 1957, after extensive efforts to secure its independence.
The party also criticised the New Patriotic Party (NPP) ‘s antecedents for opposing Ghana’s independence.
President Akufo-Addo’s remarks during his Founders’ Day speech rejected the notion of attributing Ghana’s founding solely to Dr. Nkrumah.
He acknowledged Nkrumah’s significant contributions but emphasised the collective effort of various individuals and groups in Ghana’s struggle for freedom.
This includes the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, the British West African Nation Congress, and the United Gold Coast Convention.
“The formation of these groups and the enduring spirit of our people were crucial in achieving our independence,“ Akufo-Addo said.
“Kwame Nkrumah’s visionary leadership was central in the final stages of our journey to freedom, which is why Parliament in 2019 chose to commemorate his birthday as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.”
The President’s comments have sparked controversy, with some advocating for recognising Nkrumah’s singular role in Ghana’s founding.
In 2019, Parliament established August 4 as Founders’ Day to honour all contributors to Ghana’s independence, while September 21 was designated as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day to celebrate the First President’s legacy.
