History, the sages say is written by the victors. In line with this adage, in Ghana who is the ‘Founder’ or ‘Founders’ depends on the party in power. To the National Democratic Congress (NDC) the country has one Founder – Kwame Nkrumah; while the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has the BIG SIX – Kwame Nkrumah; Joseph Boakye Danquah; Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey; Ebenezer Ako-Adjei; William Ofori Atta; and, Edward Akufo-Addo, as the founders of the nation.
A look at American history shows that though the country’s foremost leader in the struggle for independence was George Washington, the nation recognises eight persons as founders. They are George Washington; Alexander Hamilton; Benjamin Franklin; John Adams; Samuel Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison; and, John Jay.
Additionally, Americans see the following who contributed in diverse ways towards the independence struggle also as founders: John Hancock, Gouverneur Morris, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere, George Mason, Charles Carroll, Patrick Henry, John Marshall, and, Abigail Adams.
The term “Founding Fathers” is used to refer to the group of persons whose lives and work established the framework upon which America was built. These individuals either signed the Declaration of Independence, contributed to the drafting of the Constitution, or played roles as government and political leaders in America.
In Ghana before the Big Six were nationalists like Lawyer John Mensah Sarbah, and S. R. B. Attah-Ahoma, Methodist Minister, prolific anti-colonial journalist, and nationalist campaigner in the 1890s.
Rev Attah-Ahomah edited the Gold Coast Methodist Times and used it to protest against British rule. In 1897 the newspaper headed the campaign against the Lands Bill and he helped found the Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) to protest against the bill.
Such men gave the nationalist movement a distinctly elitist flavour that was to last until the late 1940s.
Within the UGCC aside the Big Six were people like: R. S. Blay, F. A. Awooner-Williams, J. Quist-Therson; J. W. de Graft-Johnson; W. O. Essuman, A. Mends, K. Bentsi Enchill, and S. W. Duncan while the CPP had stalwarts in the persons of: Kojo Botsio, K. A. Gbedemah, Kwaku Baako, and, Rebecca Naa Dedei Aryeetey, aka, Dedei Ashikishan, a businesswoman, political activist and a CPP financier.
There were also female nationalists like: National Propaganda Secretary CPP, Hannah Kudjoe, who raised funds and campaigned for the release of the Big Six in 1948; Agnes Oforiwa Tagoe-Quarcoopome, well-known for mobilizing Makola Women Association and huge funds for Nkrumah’s independence campaign;
Others were: Mabel Dove Danquah, wife of J.B Danquah, and a staff of the CPP’s Accra Evening News, and the first female member of the Legislative Assembly of the Gold Coast for Ga Rural on the ticket of the CPP in 1954; Sophia Oboshie Doku, devoted CPP activist and the first female parliamentarian in the first Parliament of the First Republic of Ghana under President Kwame Nkrumah; and, Ama Nkrumah, fearless political activist extraordinaire who served various positions in the CPP.
Not to be overlooked is the nationalistic work the Chief of Osu Alata, Nii Kwabena Bonney III. Nii Bonnie, also known as Kwamla Theodore Taylor, advocated for the rights of the people on the Gold Coast. In 1947, he led an anti-inflation campaign against inflated prices of European-imported goods, rallying support for a nationwide boycott.
Subsequent events show that the political beneficiaries of the boycott together with the mowing down of Sergeant Nii Adjetey, Corporal Patrick Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey in 1948 that led to riots were the Big Six.
All these people as President Akufo-Addo said recently, worked tirelessly to educate and inspire the people, organizing rallies and meetings to raise awareness about the need for independence.
“Their message resonated with Ghanaians from all walks of life, sparking a movement that would eventually lead to the liberation of our nation, encompassing the birth of the Convention People’s Party, CPP, which led us on the final lap of our journey to freedom. As we commemorate these historical milestones, we pay tribute to successive generations of Ghanaians who contributed to the attainment of our national independence”, he said.
According to the President, “It is fitting that we have chosen this date to honour their sacrifices, resilience, and dedication to the ideals of freedom and justice. I reject the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions are undeniable, the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning generations”.
“The groundwork laid by the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, the British West African National Congress, the United GOCUS Convention, and many other organizations and individuals provided the foundation upon which Kwame Nkrumah built the Convention People’s Party, CPP. And indeed, that is why he was careful to associate the name of his new party with that of the convention. The contributions of the leaders before him were instrumental as is natural in the continuum of history in shaping the political landscape and facilitated Kwang Nkrumah’s rise to prominence”, President Akufo-Addo said.
Ghana’s Independence was achieved as a result of a process of agitations or struggles for changes in the colonial governance of the Gold Coast over a period. It was not achieved as a result of an event. Therefore, it was started by some people and completed by other people. It is therefore fair to appreciate and recognize the efforts of all those who were involved in the agitations or struggles for the country’s independence by making the day, FOUNDERS’ DAY!
While Nkrumah was the driving force, others played very key roles. These individuals including politicians, lawyers, and activists who worked together to achieve a common goal offer an understanding of the country’s march to political freedom. Their legacies remind us that Ghana’s independence was a collective effort from diverse perspectives.
Recognizing all those who worked in diverse ways to give us freedom from colonial rule enriches our understanding of Ghana’s complex history and the collaborative spirit that shaped its future.
The Founders’ Day must be seen as a reminder of our shared duty to uphold the principles that define us as a nation and to contribute positively to the advancement of our communities and country.
Story: Oppong Baah
