Retired Diplomat, Mr. K.B Asante has described the proposal by President Nana Akufo Addo's led New Patriotic Party (NPP) government to change the Founder’s Day date to August 4 as a ‘silly idea’.
The political historian known for his frankness averred that observing the birthday of Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as Founder’s Day is a foregone conclusion and remains untouchable.
President Akufo Addo has suggested to Parliament to legislate 21st September Founder’s Day to August 4; thus September 21 would still remain a statutory public holiday but observed as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
The decision has however caused an uproar among historians, academicians, politicians and others. But K.B Asante who worked closely with Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is enraged by the President's intention.
"I don’t want to consider the idea of changing it,” he rejected the proposal in an interview with TV3’s Bright Nana Amfoh on Midday Live Thursday, September 21, 2017.
“If you don’t know your history that you have all these silly ideas that Nkrumah not being the founder and find other reasons to support [the proposal]. He was the founder, we have decided on it, and that is the end”, he stressed.
He charged the New Patriotic Party (NPP) government led President Akufo Addo to busy itself with other important development in the country, rather than trying to change an idea accepted globally.
Proponents advocating for a change of date argued strongly that Nkrumah cannot be the sole founder of Ghana, insisting that the change would give due recognition to others who played critical role leading to Ghana’s independence.
Mr. K.B. Asante again indicated that August 4 in which the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) was inaugurated cannot even be exhaustive as there are several other unrecorded heroes who were not part of the UGCC but contributed immensely to the country attaining independence.
Speaking onthe same network, Prof. Edmund Delle, Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), also stated that there is no doubt others played a significant role in Ghana’s independence, but like in other jurisdiction, the country has accepted that he [Kwame Nkrumah] is the founder, and that should end the debate.
He saw Nkrumah as a “unique” person who would forever remained great irrespective of what his critics do; adding “I find the debate needless”, warning that the CPP will with “immediate effect” change the date again when it comes to power without even batting an eyelid.
Source: Daniel Adu Darko/Peacefmonline.com/[email protected]
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Some leaders! Sad how some elders think? 21 st century folks
GHANA!! Why are we so ready to bastardize people who dedicated their whole lives to fight for the freedom of the Motherland. Do we have people with gratitude who cherish the pioneers of this country? A people from a very early line of their lineage had their adrenalin always working for the emancipation of the country we now call Ghana. From Nana Sir Ofori Atta down to the current president together with many others, these patriots virtually laid down their lives for the emancipation of the Motherland. Nii Kwabena Boni, Sgt Adjetey and many many more had to literally sacrifice their lives for the country. How on earth could we as a people forget these people and accord only one person (a latter day saint in the emancipation fight) as the sole founder of the country. That is simply the height of ingratitude. The type of propagandist politics which has the capability to pave the way for somebody like Mahama to become the president of the country was started by Kwame Nkrumah. What actually did Kwame Nkrumah do? That he had the charisma is beyond dispute. That he brought speed to the independence fight is beyond dispute. But to say he is the sole founder is a little too much over the top. I have just read KB Asante's insults. Very Sad of an old man like him. There are many people in the country who will never ever praise the best in the country because it may have come from certain people from a particular geographical region in the country. This is exactly the energy that has fueled this founder debate.I am not surprised people have even started saying Mahama started the free SHS policy. Such is the nature of the spirit that is bent to destroy the good of the land. Let us as a people shed the spirit of tribal division. Let us be filled with patriotism so as to appreciate everyone who fights for the good of the motherland. This is the sure way to encourage the youth to also come on board in the nation building effort. Don't let us leave behind a tradition of simmering tribal tensions lest we would be leaving our posterity with a country that although immensely blessed, but incapable of seeing the light of true freedom.
it is equally "silly" for anyone to think that one man was the founder of Ghana.
So if you invite me to your kitchen to help prepare TZ and its taken too long to make, and i get a different kitchen and make indomi for people to eat... should i consider you part of the food preparation. As soon as Nkrumah got to Gh, he realized the UGCC was a bunch of ***barred word*** and elites wh did not care about the common man. So he formed he party and founded Ghana... Plain and simple...Akuffo Addo, GOOO AWAY...
The whole of this brouhaha is because Nana Addo is the president. By the grace of GOD he WOULD leaves office come 2020 and that would be the end of this brouhaha. It's he who is trying to commend his father and uncle with this Founder's day thing. When he leaves no Npp aspirant would come and do this. ALAN KYEREMATENG would not do this in office, Borromia would not do this not to talk of Kuffour faction. Ghanaians should pray Nana loose or leaves office in 2020 for us have peace of mind to do important things than this founder's day story.
Because of such things we will always have people who will engage in ***barred word*** adventures. Nkrumah and Rawlings - big examples
It is unfortunate that a senior citizen of Mr. Asante's stature decides to use abusive words in public. As a retired diplomat courtesy should guide you to behave well in public so that the youth could emulate it. If this is what the many years as a diplomat has taught you then God save Ghana! Some of us always say that these socialist boys never mature, regardless of their age, profession or academic standing! The simple question to you is that how can an invitee be a founder of a process others began before he joined? What work was your Nkrumah doing before he was ferried to Ghana? Did he not like the proverbial KWEKU ANANSE betray his seniors and those who paid his ship far to Ghana? Your anger will not change anything. Yes, it is true Nkrumah made you what you are today, but what can you say for the children of the thousands that were freed from the prisons after Nkrumah's overthrow? Let's be frank and face realities when discussing issues of national concern.
How can Kwame Nkrumah be the 'founder' of Ghana when he was brought down to be engaged as general secretary of UGCC who was zealously fighting for independence? Nkrumah was just a cheat who took what did not belong to him. He carelessly spent all the 200 million pounding sterling the British colonial power left for Ghana just for his selfish interest. Did he ever dreamt of coming to Ghana not even to become a politician after his failed priesthood career in USA. CPP apologists who were brain washed by nkrumasism cant distort Ghana's history just like their failed attempt to adopt CPP flag as Ghana's flag. It is very shameful for such tribal egoist who was using Ga-Adangme ethnocentrism to reclaim all their lands taken by "alien" Ghanaians not even forgetting that many of his tribesmen had landed properties in many Akan areas especially in Akyem Abuakwa. How can such a educated and elderly person spew this? God save Ghana from such nation wreckers
These senile idealogues should spare us their rantings and ravings wai. What do they think the phrase " posterity will judge..." exists. How on earth do they think Nkrumah "the back stabber" will be considered by posterity to be the "sole founder" of Ghana??How?? So they thought the propaganda and myths they wrote up bout Nkrumah in our history books will remain so forever?? Time has an uncanny way of revealing the truth and the truth is that Nkrumah never was, is not and will never be the founder of Ghana. You see what has happened to his so-called party and doctrine of 'Nkrumahism", thats what will happen to the fake history they are worshipping.....Just you mark my words!!!!
Ghanafo) de333..so so gyimiee nkoaa. Founder or founders, would it put food on our tables? Is this necessary. Sick leaders!