Audio By Carbonatix
Former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Nii Ayikoi Otoo says he will champion a process to change the Founder's Day to Founders Day to take account of the contribution of others, apart from Nkrumah, to the independence struggle.
He said the claim that Dr. Nkrumah foundered Ghana solely was a distortion of Ghana’s history which will be reversed when the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) regains power.
Mr. Ayikoi Otoo said Ghana’s first president was simply an opportunist who rode on the back of the hard work done by leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) to rise to national fame.
The forebears of the NPP foundered the UGCC and invited Dr. Nkrumah to take the position of Secretary but he later broke away from the party to found the Convention People’s Party which ushered Ghana into independence.
The Mills administration recognized Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as founder of Ghana - a position the NPP vehemently disagrees with.
Mr. Ayikoi Otoo maintained Nkrumah took advantage of the parameters set by UGCC for his Independence Now campaign.
“We brought him [Nkrumah] down, paid his passage and paid him to act as a Secretary and his turned against us”.
But his description of Dr. Nkrumah’s position as opportunistic brought Malik Kweku Baako, an avowed CPP member to his feet.
“It is unfair,” he insisted, to describe Dr Nkrumah as opportunistic.
Contrary to the NPP's claims, Kweku Baako said Dr. Nkrumah recognized the role the UGCC played in Ghana's independence struggle.
“Nkrumah was a tactician of a strategic proportion not an opportunist,” Kwaku stressed.
President John Atta Mills' government instituted September 21 as Founder's Day to celebrate the legacy of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
But Mr Ayikoi Otoo, like many leaders of the opposition NPP, said the day should be Founders Day and dedicated to the memory of all the Big Six - Kwame Nkrumah, Ako Adjei, J.B. Danquah, Edward Akuffo Addo, Obetsebi Lamptey, and William Ofori Atta - who made significant contributions to the independence struggle.
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Tags:
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Real-Time VAT on cross-border digital services – not a new tax and does not violate double taxation principle
33 minutes -
Digitalisation, AI key to Ghana’s tourism transformation – GHATOF
45 minutes -
Stronger GTA-private sector partnership needed to grow tourism – GHATOF
55 minutes -
Amazon eyes Ghana for broadband expansion after talks with Mahama
2 hours -
National Investment Quiz 2026: Six schools qualify for quarter-finals
2 hours -
‘Do not let Russia pay for its madness with lives of your people’ – Zelensky to Ghana, 46 other countries
2 hours -
6,079 promotion cases fully processed and paid – CAGD says amid nationwide teachers’ strike
3 hours -
Teacher unions to meet government Monday over nationwide strike
3 hours -
Photo story: Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair clinic wraps up after three days of housing solutions, expert engagement
3 hours -
National Peace Council urges investment in youth to sustain Ghana’s peace
3 hours -
Afenyo-Markin urges youth to speak up against injustice
3 hours -
CAF annuls Edo Queens victory, orders WAFU B final to resume from extra time
4 hours -
Interior Minister urges traditional authorities to enforce anti-bushfire bye-laws
4 hours -
3rd Republic Bank-JoyNews Habitat Fair Clinic ends on a high note after three days of strong patronage
4 hours -
Ten climbers missing after avalanche hits Himalayan base camp
4 hours