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Ghana observes Founders’ Day
The list of men and women who fought tooth and nail to secure for Ghana the title of independence is not exhaustive. They included market women, ordinary people and businessmen like Paa Grant.
However, when the independence of Ghana is mentioned, six outstanding men come into sharp focus as having held the baton and took the freedom of Ghana to the finish line but others too in small or significant ways were part of the “freedom fight” and indeed deserve celebration.
The 4th of August; Founder’s Day since 2019 has become a day designated for such august memorial for our forefathers, especially the Big Six who were also the founding members of the first political party, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in Ghana, then Gold Coast; namely Ebenezer Ako-Adjei –founding member of UGCC, Edward Akufo-Addo – founding member of the UGCC and subsequently Chief Justice of Ghana and President of Ghana, Joseph Boakye Danquah – founding member of the UGCC, Kwame Nkrumah – Prime Minister of Ghana and first president of Ghana, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, founding member of the UGCC and William Ofori Atta – founding member of the UGCC.
In a recent lecture to commemorate the day in Accra, the Speaker of Parliament Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye noted that, “A recap of the chronology of events showed that before the arrival of Nkrumah, some gallant men were taking steps to lead Ghana to independence. If something had not been founded, what was Nkrumah brought down for? If there was nothing, what was he to come and help to consolidate?”
According to him, “Nkrumah did not alone compose the classical sonata and constitute the orchestra which sang Ghana’s clarion call to independence in sweet melody, all in two months! The fathers of the nation were there already. They included Paa Grant, J.B. Danquah, Akufo-Addo, Ako Adjei, Obetsebi Lamptey and William Ofori-Atta.”
There has been a debate however, over whether or not Nkrumah should be credited with founding Ghana or not. The debate, is mostly between the Nkrumahist and the Danquah-Busia political traditions.
The debate stems from the March 2019 public holiday amendments HYPERLINK “https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_(law)” bill which was proposed by the President, Nana Addo Danquah Akufo-Addo and subsequently passed into HYPERLINK “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law” \o “Law” law that 4th August be designated as Founders’ Day to recognise all other contributors in the independence struggle whilst 21st September (previously Founder’s Day) as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day. The Founders’ Day is reserved to celebrate the people( HYPERLINK “https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Six_(Ghana)” \o “The Big Six (Ghana)” The Big Six) who led Ghana to independence whilst Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day is reserved for Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the leader of the movement towards independence of Ghana to commemorate his birthday, the bill explained.
By Spectator Reporter
Troubled and anxious citizens in Damongo of the Savannah Region have expressed concerns about the number of young people, believed to be under the age of 18, involved in ‘shisha’ smoking in pubs and drinking spots within the township.
Eyewitnesses say the minors were seen patronising nightlife venues, where Shisha smoking happen in the open.
The situation has sparked renewed public concern over the enforcement of child protection laws and regulations governing the operations of entertainment centres in the municipality and country as a whole.
An eyewitness, who spoke to The Spectator on conditions of anonymity for security reasons, noted that the situation was becoming increasingly common.
“This is not a one-off incident. It is becoming very common, but residents like us cannot openly report or speak about it because our lives will be at risk,” he said.
Under Ghanaian law, minors were prohibited from patronising Shisha.
Public health experts have consistently warned that shisha use exposes users to harmful substances that can negatively affect brain development, respiratory health, and overall well-being, particularly among young people.
The residents believe the alleged incidents point to broader challenges relating to youth supervision, substance abuse, and weak enforcement of existing regulations and have called on municipal authorities, security agencies, and regulatory bodies to intensify monitoring of pubs and entertainment centres to ensure compliance with the law.
In an effort to address the menace, Mr Salisu Be-Awurbi, the Savannah Regional Minister, has led public education campaigns, engaged security agencies, and supported enforcement actions to address the rising use of illicit substances in the region.
Wura Kelly Seidu Boresah I, the Chief of Damongo, has also called on all stakeholders including parents, community leaders, institutions, and young people to actively support efforts to curb drug abuse, warning that the rising consumption of hard drugs poses a serious health threat to the future of the youth in the Savannah Region.
He also cautioned individuals involved in the sale and distribution of illicit drugs to immediately desist from the practice, stressing that offenders will face arrest and prosecution in accordance with the law.
From Geoffrey Buta, Damongo, Savannah Region
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Dr Theresa Baffour, an advocate for ending violence and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SAHM SAHW Foundation, has said that society plays a critical and pivotal role in breaking the cycle of domestic violence.
According to her, domestic violence is a major contributor of making women, who are mostly the victims, mentally derailed and unable to engage in economic activities.
She said this when the foundation called on the Ga Mantse, Nii Tackie Teiko Tsuru II, to solicit support for the initiative by the “Strong and Healthy Minds, Strong and Healthy Women” (SAHM SAHW) to combat domestic violence within the Ga State.
The visit was occasioned by the fact that domestic violence cases have become quite prevalent in the Ga communities and is retarding growth.
According to her, the canker was an impediment to national development because the victims were usually tortured and would have to go through series of therapies to return to the right state of mind.
Dr Baffour mentioned that Gender-Based Violence (GBV) places a mental toll on women, and was, therefore, important to break the cycle through comprehensive mental health support, crisis intervention and empowerment programmes in communities with high rates of GBV.
This intervention, she underscored, would help in empowering the denigrated victim of domestic violence to soundly heal, build and thrive.
Dr Baffour added that the initiative would provide holistic, trauma-informed mental health care and advocacy for young women affected by domestic violence.
According to her, the above statement would create safe spaces for healing and equipping them with entrepreneurial skills for renewed hope and empowered life.
The Ga Mantse pledged his support for the laudable initiative to combat domestic violence and also acknowledged the need to address it in the Ga State.
Further endorsement came from Justice Julia Naa-Yarley Adjei Amoah, Chief of Staff at the Office of the Ga Mantse, as she commended the team of SAHM SAHW Foundation for taking a bold step to end the canker in the Greater Accra.
She added that it was a step in the right direction to save vulnerable women from torture, stress and emotional abuse.
By Alfred Nii Arday Ankrah
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