The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has strongly criticized President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo for his recent remarks questioning Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s exclusive status as Ghana’s founder.
In his Founders’ Day address, President Akufo-Addo stated that Ghana’s independence resulted from a collective effort and should not be attributed solely to Dr. Nkrumah.
The President’s comments have ignited controversy, with the CPP condemning his statement as an “unfortunate gaffe.”
The CPP accused President Akufo-Addo of undermining Nkrumah’s pivotal role in Ghana’s history.
The party argued that the President’s comments were inappropriate on a day dedicated to honouring Ghana’s founder and criticized the current administration for handling historical facts.
“To reject The Osagyefo (Nkrumah) as the Founder of Ghana because ‘the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations’ is an unfortunate gaffe,” the CPP said.
“It is surprising that His Excellency would choose such words in these final days of the NPP administration, especially after recent inaccuracies such as mistakenly referring to former President John Dramani Mahama as his vice.”
The CPP’s statement underscored the party’s view that Nkrumah, who named Ghana after the ancient Ghana Empire on the eve of the country’s independence on March 6, 1957, deserves unreserved recognition for his role in the nation’s founding.
The party also criticized the NPP’s historical accuracy, referencing past attempts by the party’s predecessors to obstruct Ghana’s path to independence.
The CPP’s response highlights ongoing tensions over the legacy of Ghana’s founding figures and the historical narrative surrounding the country’s independence.
