A historian, Kwaku Darko Ankrah, has said that the president erred in selecting August 4 as Founders’ Day because the date marks the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).

Speaking in an interview with Citinewsroom on August 7, 2024, he described the Akufo-Addo’s decision as totally wrong.

“The President was totally wrong when he selected August 4, you state August 4, it means that you are truncating the work others have done. The significance of August 4, is the formation of UGCC, it’s a political party. Never, how can you use a political party’s formation as the foundation of Gold Coast?

“Then we should go back to about March 8, 1897, as the formation of Gold Coast, because that is where the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was founded to save the lands of this country. For me, I don’t understand the August 4,” he noted.

He argued that several individuals laid the foundation by playing key roles in Ghana’s independence before the emergence of the Big Six, stating that the President truncated their contributions by choosing August 4 to mark Founders’ Day.

He suggested selecting a date that would unify the citizenry instead of creating divisions.

“Unifying the country is very important, it’s not about the personal interest as a people belonging to the Danquah-Busia tradition or anybody, no, it’s about unifying the country. So, the date itself must be able to unify the people.

“So, if you use the date that your party or the grandparent of your party started as a celebration day, other political parties will have cause to blame you, and when they also get political power, they will try to [change it],” he noted.

In 2019, Parliament passed a law establishing August 4 as Founders’ Day to honour the collective efforts of those who contributed to Ghana’s independence struggle, while designating September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.

This decision sparked a debate from individuals and groups who believed in Nkrumah’s singular role in founding Ghana.

On August 3, 2024, Akufo-Addo, during his address to the nation, disputed the fact that it was only Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who led the country’s independence fight.

“I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge for ourselves that respect that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” the president said.

His comments continue to spark debate, with many criticising him for attempting to distort Ghana’s history.

JKB/ ADG

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