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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
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
Ghana has signed a debt restructuring agreement with the Kingdom of Belgium as part of efforts to restore the country’s economic stability after the financial crisis that hit the nation in 2022 and 2023.
The Minister of Finance, Cassiel Ato Forson, today disclosed that he signed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Ghana.
He explained that Ghana experienced a very difficult period during the crisis, which forced the government at the time to declare a debt default.
However, he indicated that the country is now recovering and witnessing a significant economic turnaround.
According to him, stronger systems are also being put in place to ensure that Ghana does not return to such a situation again.
Dr Forson noted that the agreement with Belgium is the eighth deal Ghana has concluded with countries under the Official Creditor Committee as part of its external debt restructuring programme.
He expressed appreciation to the Government of Belgium for its support and partnership with Ghana during the process.
The Finance Minister thanked Carole van Eyll, Ambassador of Belgium to Ghana, for her role in strengthening relations between the two countries.
The agreement forms part of Ghana’s broader effort to restructure its external debts and stabilise the economy following the crisis.
By: Jacob Aggrey
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