FOUNDER’S DAY
Or
FOUNDERS’ DAY
(Sifting Mere Propaganda from Real Facts)
By
Nana Yaw Amoah-Yeboah
Copyright © 2013 Nana Yaw Amoah-Yeboah
Dedication
I dedicate this book to my two grandfathers, C. T. Baidoo and Nana Amoah Mensah who gave me the biggest advice I could ever get; “the pen can do anything in this world through Christ who strengthens you.”
Also, I dedicate this book to Prof. Mike Oquaye who gave me a book, Politics in Ghana (1982-1992) at a tender age of fourteen at Grandpa’s house which spark my urge of political service.
Acknowledgements
For the mercies and gift of life, I thank the Almighty Lord and also, for the blessings of intelligence and selfless passion for service, I can never be more indebted to his kindness.
In a very appreciative voice, I would like to thank my hardworking, noble and dedicated parents, Mr. and Mrs. Amoah-Yeboah who brought me up as both an academic and a fine gentleman, and are still willing to educate me selflessly to any extent I can go. Mum, I know I still owe you a law degree.
I must also make my profound expression of gratitude to Grandpa Amoah Mensah (Daddy) and Grandpa Baidoo for giving me certain rudiments of life. To Prof. Mike Oquaye, I know you call Grandpa, your political father; I extend to you the same accolade. Thank you.
To all teachers whose sweat and toil made it possible for me to be where I am today, I say a big thank you; especially, Mr. Ebenezer Okrah, the Facts about Ghana book you bought me, has today paid off.
Whilst appreciating the assistance of people who made this possible, I coherently very much accept full responsibility for the content of this book.
Nana Yaw Amoah-Yeboah,
Wednesday, 13th November, 2013.
Table of Contents
Pre Scriptum
Chapter One The Pre-Colonial Period & European Advocacy
Chapter Two The Intelligence Game & British Rule
Chapter Three Threshold of Nationalism, Politics of Opportunism, Tactical Stratagems and
Pure Service
Chapter Four Dr. Kwame Nkrumah; To My Mind
Chapter Five The Danquah-Busia-Dombo Tradition: Are We worth the Hype?
Post Scriptum
Pre Scriptum
In the past years, the debate of a very critical issue and general theory of who founded Ghana has been saddled with drones from a wider population of our people. Interestingly, there are predominantly, two schools of thought. My take on this much dragged issue is rooted in my critical analyses on the real facts rather than the mere and meager propaganda some people choose to do.
History must and should be preserved in all parameters. It defines who we are, as a people and as a matter of fact, any group of people or persons whatsoever, without history, are lost. Any attempt, whether deliberate or not, to radically distort our history should be frowned at. We should, as a people, try to preserve our history no matter the line it takes; at least we owe that to the unborn generation.
Moving away from our history and the role is significantly plays, my learning mind was set to think, concerning the issue of venerating Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as the founder of Ghana which was made official by celebrating 21st September, his birthday, as the FOUNDER’S DAY. To me, this initiated a drastic sense of urgency. Quite equivocally, I thought the “initiators” of this honour meant for Ghanaians to celebrate this day as that of the birthday of the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana till the same “initiators” defended their stance and continuously argued Nkrumah as the FOUNDER OF GHANA.
This is rather shocking! In what vein did the “initiators” conceive that Nkrumah founded Ghana? For me, personally, this is no mere a joke. It is for us as concerned citizens to sift mere propaganda from real facts. Our very own scholar, Oquaye, said “When Nkrumah said on the eve of Independence that our beloved country Ghana was free forever, he was putting the icing on the cake. But there were the bakers of the cake. Can you forget them? No. Our independence was gained more with brain than with brawn. This must be acknowledged.”
We cannot as a people, lay bare and idle for some privileged cohorts to distort our history in order to score cheap political points. Nkrumah is not the FOUNDER OF GHANA. Contrarily, Nkrumah did his bit for our beloved country but there is a proverb in the Akan dialect which says “Nea ade3 da no, wonfa to ne yie a, efere to.” It translates as “if something is not at its rightful place, it falls because it does not fit.” For no reason should we let our political affiliation cloud our sense of good reasoning thereby letting it negatively affect our nationalistic tendencies.
Interestingly, the spectra of disputes arisen from this so called FOUNDER’S DAY theory, to some, are worrisome. To me, it is a step in the very right direction. The earlier the “initiators” see the light in this argument and toe a line of repairing the damages done, the better it will be for us, as a people.
We need call a spade a spade and not a big spoon. Let us all endeavor to be hardheaded, nationalistic and shirk the attitude of gambling with our history. God bless our homeland Ghana.
Nana Yaw Amoah-Yeboah