President Nana Akufo Addo in his speech during Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary on 6 March, 2017, is quoted to have said that the UGCC “met to demand independence from the British and 70 years after that event, one still marvels at the clarity of thought and the passion that they displayed…some of the names of that momentous day have survived in our written history and folk memory.
Five of them are on our Ghanaian currency: Joseph Boakye Danquah; Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey; William Ofori-Atta; Ebenezer Ako-Adjei; and Edward Akufo-Addo. Kwame Nkrumah, the sixth of the Big Six on the currency, was to join them later.”
The President suggested that the struggle for independence was successful through the efforts of several others in 1957 and not only one person; Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
This generated controversy as many are of the view that the President attempted to re-write history.
Speaking to this issue, the managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr wonders why prominence is being given to this issue ‘which had been settled a long time ago’ when there are more important matters to deal with.
Kwesi Pratt, who was contributing to a panel discussion on Radio Gold’s Alhaji and Alhaji, said: “this debate is absolutely needless and useless…because the history has been settled for a very long time. All over the world Nkrumah has become an iconic figure…that is why the only edifice that stands tall at the AU headquarters is Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah…”
According to him, "trying to denigrate a tall figure like Nkrumah is like kicking your bare feet against a rock. The only thing which will hurt in this process is the feet not the rock and I would like to advise those who are intent on doing this to watch out".
"We are told that this debate is to enable us learn about our history; I’m ashamed and embarrassed. This country has relived history as a stand-alone subject in our curriculum. If you want people to learn about history, is it through such useless and needless debate? Or should we or should we not reintroduce history as a stand-alone subject in our curriculum…"
Source: Peacefmonline.com
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Please people of Ghana, if we do not know where we came from how can we know for sure where we are going. Well. from time to time the elders must remind the youngster about the family history otherwise they will take the current privileges for granted and perhaps misuse it. The role of the President is to do just that. In fact I felt proud and very inspired to be a GHANAIAN and the mood of the occasion was caught perfectly by the President's rendition on that day. Mr Pratt has got it very wrong!!!!!.
because Ghanaians love to listen to him and make noise so he will continue talking.
@Kwabena. Perhaps you should go and be taught well the history of Ghana because you are partially ***barred word***. Kwame Nkrumah was first recommended by Ako Adjei who knew him then abroad. The recommendation was not just to become a full time general secretary as the president and the NPP are telling Ghanaians. Infact Ako Adjei then, knew Kwame Nkrumah of his vision for the African continent and recommended him as one whom, the UGCC needed to be able to complete their mission. Secondly, you should also know, that the ticket then paid for, was not done by JB Danquah or contributions from members of the UGCC. The paid ticket was solely done by Paa Grant and NOT contributions from all UGCC members. Thirdly, JB Danquah alone, never had a vision of independence. Once again, it was Paa Grant who mobilized members of the UGCC together. JB Danquah then, was only a representative of chiefs until he was brought in like all other members.
@Kwabena. Perhaps you should go and be thought well the history of Ghana because you are partially ***barred word***. Kwame Nkrumah was first recommended by Ako Adjei who knew him then abroad. The recommendation was not just to become a full time general secretary as the president and the NPP are telling Ghanaians. Infact Ako Adjei then, knew Kwame Nkrumah of his vision for the African continent and recommended him as one whom, the UGCC needed to be able to complete their mission. Secondly, you should also know, that the ticket then paid for, was not done by JB Danquah or contributions from members of the UGCC. The paid ticket was solely done by Paa Grant and NOT contributions from all UGCC members. Thirdly, JB Danquah alone, never had a vision of independence. Once again, it was Paa Grant who mobilized members of the UGCC together. JB Danquah then, was only a representative of chiefs until he was brought in like all other members.
Kwesi Pratt is an ideologist who specializes in deswaying minds of people from pertinent issues which has been his speciality. Fortunately, the Independent Prosecutor will very soon invite him to explain how he got Ghc2000 and he will get a new bed and space at nsawam prisons. So Kwesi, keep tickling yourself because this fruitless debate will never end anywhere.
Kwesi, please allow Nkrumah to stand tall at the AU headquarters. Those of us in Ghana know that at a point in time he was invited to come and help in the struggle for Independence. His Air ticket was even paid for. Go and read your history books well.
This is the question I have been asking myself all the time.And the most interesting part is that this man knows no shame.
When will this man stop talking?