The NDC, known for its support for Nkrumaist ideals, deems this move as an attempt to distort Ghana’s by enforcing the idea that Ghana had multiple founders.

[contextly_sidebar id=”XaydP2JRP0c4Bm3r9f0cQSa1a6O5zf1g”]The NDC’s Organising Secretary, Kofi Adams, noted to Citi News that “it must be made very clear that a future government, that is not an NPP government will correct this distortion. If they ever attempt to distort this information, it will be corrected.”

The change is only a proposal as yet, but but the September 21 Founder’s Day instituted by the NDC in 2012, has been changed to Nkrumah Memorial Day, via an executive instrument by President Nana Akufo-Addo.

August 4, the Founders Day date, is noted as the date for the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 by J.B. Danquah and George Alfred “Paa” Grant, two forebears of the NPP tradition as currently constituted.

The NDC has served notice it will protest on September 21, to register its discontent with the government’s change of the Founders Day.

“Any attempt to force on us some founders will be resisted by all progressive forces in this country. Ghana’s founding president’s birthday is 21^st of September. That day has been recognized by even the African Union,” Mr. Adams declared.

“We are not just demonstrating; we are giving indications that, true Ghanaians, Ghanaians with consciences understand and believe that many persons played roles in bringing us independence but Kwame Nkrumah was on top of it and that day has been recognized by Ghanaians and has been recognized by the African Union.”

The NDC government in 2012, earmarked September 21, Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday, as Founder’s Day, sparking the debate over Ghana’s founders and concerns that other key figures in the fight for independence were being sidelined.

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post We’ll reverse Founder’s Day to September 21 if … – Kofi Adams appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The NDC feels this is an attempt to distort history and force on Ghanaians “some founders.”

[contextly_sidebar id=”iDMGBQIC7Q3nEf8jqeqPdmpmNArJenlG”]”Any attempt to force on us some founders will be resisted by all progressive forces in this country. Ghana’s founding president’s birthday is 21^st of September. That day has been recognized by even the African Union,” the NDC’s Organiser, Kofi Adams, said to Citi News.

The NDC government in 2012, under John Atta Mills earmarked September 21, which is Kwame Nkrumah’s birthday, as Founder’s Day, sparking the debate over Ghana’s founders and concerns that other key players in the fight for independence were being sidelined.

Some five years down the line, President Nana Akufo-Addo has issued an executive instrument to rename September 21 Nkrumah Memorial day, and he has proposed legislation to designate August 4 as Founders Day.

August 4 is noted as the date for the formation of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society by John Mensah Sarbah in 1897, and the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 by J.B. Danquah and George Alfred “Paa” Grant.

As some expected, this was not going to sit well with the NDC, which has long touted its Nkrumahist credentials, and held Ghana’s first president as the sole founder of the country.

Mr. Adams said the protest was to serve notice that true Ghanaians were able to differentiate between the Ghanaians who played roles in the independence struggle, and the perceived one true founder of the country.

“We are not just demonstrating, we are giving indications that, true Ghanaians, Ghanaians with conscience understand and believe that many persons played roles in bringing us independence, but Kwame Nkrumah was on top of it and that day has been recognized by Ghanaians and has been recognized by the African Union.”

He further hinted that, this proposed legislation will be reversed if the NDC assumes the mantle of governance some years down the line.

“It must be made very clear that a future government, that is not an NPP government will correct this distortion. If they ever attempt to distort this information, it will be corrected.”

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By: Delali Adogla-Bessa/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post NDC to demonstrate tomorrow over ‘Aug. 4 Founders Day’ proposal appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Founder’s day is a day statutorily set aside to observe the birthday of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and other founding fathers of the country.

It is usually celebrated on September 21, but there have been concerns as to why no national event is held on the day in honour of the heroes who fought for the country’s independence.

Prof Asare Opoku believes a well-co-ordinated programme to celebrate Dr Nkrumah on the day, will serve as inspiration to many Ghanaians

“The Founder’s day should be a day on which we remember the achievements of Nkrumah. His speeches etc. There should be competitions and some people should write poems about Nkrumah, plays, songs etc.

“The founder’s day is not a day to sleep. It is a day of inspiration when the story of Nkrumah must be told and retold and we Nkrumah achieved a lot because he believed in himself and stood firmly as an African and that is where his confidence came from and we are eroding that confidence which belongs to us naturally by merely imitating others.”

About Nkrumah

Kwame Nkrumah was born as Francis Nwia Kofi Ngonloma in Nkroful, Gold Coast. Nkrumah studied to be a teacher at Achimota School in Accra from 1925 to 1935.

For the following five years he worked as a teacher in several schools in the Gold Coast including a Roman Catholic school in Axim, while he was saving money to continue his education in the United States of America.

In 1935, Nkrumah sailed from Takoradi, Gold Coast, to Liverpool, England, and made his way to London, England, where he applied and received his student visa from the American Embassy.

It was while Nkrumah was in London in late 1935 that he heard the news of the Invasion of Abyssinia by fascist Italy, an event that outraged the young Nkrumah.

This prompted him to set his sights on a political career. In October 1935, Nkrumah sailed from Liverpool to the United States, where he enrolled at the Lincoln University of Pennsylvania.

He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939, and then he completed his Bachelor of Sacred Theology degree in 1942.

Nkrumah also earned his Master of Science degree in education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1942, and then his M.A. in philosophy in 1943.

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post Mark founder’s day with useful activities – Professor demands appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.