The Managing Director of the State Transport Corporation (STC), Nana Akomea, says the country’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was the one who instigated the debate on who founded Ghana.

His comment comes after President Akufo-Addo’s address to celebrate Founders’ Day on Saturday stirred debates.

The President highlighted the collective efforts of various individuals in the independence struggle.

While acknowledging the contribution of Dr. Nkrumah, he rejected the notion that Kwame Nkrumah alone founded Ghana.

“While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” President Akufo-Addo stated.

Read also: There is nothing to argue about Kwame Nkrumah being Ghana’s founder – Dr Sekou to Akufo-Addo

Critics have since described the suggestion by the president as self-serving and an attempt to distort the country's history.

But speaking on Joy FM’s Super Morning Show, Mr Akomea emphasised that the territory of Ghana, as it stands today, was already established at the time of the country's independence on March 6, 1957.

According to him, it was Dr Nkrumah who gave himself the title Founder of Ghana even though he only played a role in the country’s fight to be a sovereign state.

“This business of who founded Ghana was started by Kwame Nkrumah. He gave himself the title of founder and did the coins with his image on it with the title founder. When you say you have found something it means before you came that thing didn’t exist.

“But Ghana as we have it today, as of March 6, 1957, existed as it is. When we had independence on March 6, the state of Ghana as it is, which part of Ghana as we have it now was missing?” he quizzed.

Mr Akomea was therefore of the view that people who led the country to independence should be known as Independence Leaders, not Founders.

Similar to the President, Mr Akomea acknowledged Dr Nkrumah's significant role in leading Ghana to independence, he however suggested a broader recognition of all contributors to the independence movement.

“I’d prefer independence leaders but if we want to call them founders that is fine. Now, my basic point is that, a lot of people contributed to our attainment of independence. Kwame Nkrumah played a leadership role. “So what is wrong if we select a day to commemorate all those who played a role in fighting for the country’s independence and choose Nkrumah’s birthday to celebrate him for his stellar job,” he said.