President Akufo-Addo has reaffirmed that Ghanaians were not dormant before the advent of former President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
His comments, made during the 2024 Founders’ Day address on August 3, and reiterated while hosting senior citizens in Accra on August 5, have sparked a renewed debate about Ghana’s history and the recognition of its founders.
“I know there are some who question this ceremony that is 4th August as Founders’ Day because they believe that we were asleep in Ghana until the arrival of Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP,” President Akufo-Addo remarked. He emphasized his belief that Ghana’s history is more extensive than the contributions of any single individual.
“I have already stated my views on that several times including in my speech last Saturday evening. I don’t intend to go over that matter again. Suffice to say I believe that the consensus that parliament arrived at in 2019 honouring Kwame Nkrumah in a memorial day and preserving the historical importance and significance of August 4th in our history is a good consensus and it deserves to last,” he added.
The President’s stance underscores the law passed by Parliament in 2019, which established August 4 as Founders’ Day, honouring all individuals who contributed to Ghana’s independence.
Additionally, September 21 was designated as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, specifically to honour Nkrumah’s contributions.
This dual recognition has been a source of contention among some individuals and groups who advocate for exclusive acknowledgement of Nkrumah’s pivotal role in the nation’s founding.
Among these critics is Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, a former Senior Governance Advisor at the United Nations, who asserts that Nkrumah’s leadership was singularly crucial and deserves exclusive recognition.
Despite the opposition, President Akufo-Addo remains steadfast in his position, advocating for a more inclusive historical narrative that acknowledges the collective efforts leading to Ghana’s independence.