Legal expert and historian, Yaw Anokye Frimpong, has challenged the historical narrative surrounding Gold Coast’s independence struggle, particularly regarding ‘The Big Six’.
During a commemorative lecture organized by Onua TV’s morning show, ‘Maakye‘, on the 52nd memorial of Nkrumah, Frimpong argued that the concept of ‘The Big Six’ is misleading.
He clarified that those referred to as ‘The Big Six’ were members of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) who were arrested following the 1948 riots.
Mr Frimpong explained that the phrase originated from the aftermath of the riots, where three ex-service men were shot and killed. After a petition was handed to the governor, it was discovered that the handwriting on the petition was Nkrumah’s, leading to the conclusion that the UGCC had orchestrated the riots.
As a result, Nkrumah and Ebenezer Ako Adjei, who had convinced the ex-service men to demand their ex-gratia, were arrested along with four other UGCC leaders. The media then reported that “the big six leaders of the UGCC” had been arrested, popularizing the term ‘The Big Six’.
Mr Frimpong argued that if there were to be a group referred to as ‘The Big Six’ in Ghana’s independence struggle, it should have included individuals like Paa Grant and Gbedemah, who played more pivotal roles alongside Nkrumah, rather than the UGCC leaders who were arrested due to Nkrumah’s involvement in the riots.
The traditional ‘Big Six’ are Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah; Dr. Joseph Boakye (‘J.B.’) Danquah; Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey; Ebenezer Ako-Adjei; William Ofori Atta and Edward Akufo-Addo, all of whom were part of the UGCC before Nkrumah left to form the CPP.
The three ex-servicemen whose shooting sparked the 1948 riots were Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey.