Responding to a question during the first book reading session of his autobiography; ‘My first Coup D’etat’ at the University of Ghana on Tuesday, Mr. Mahama said Nkrumah is undoubtedly the founder of Ghana.

[contextly_sidebar id=”oAsCLdzcZLJU2RtW2A6NN15wHtCrKHIK”]”Certainly, one thing we can’t run away from is that, he [Nkrumah] is the founder of our nation. He led the independence struggle. Many people contributed and it happens; in Christianity, there is John the Baptist, there are all the apostles, but who is the champion of Christianity, Jesus Christ,” he said.

The former President stressed that, hailing Nkrumah was not tantamount to the relegation of other persons who played a role in the independence, but the spark of Ghana’s independence was to be given due reverence.

“We don’t undermine the role other people played… but you cannot recognize all those who took part. There is that person who gave the critical spark that eventually led to independence. And you cannot run away from the fact that it is Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.”

Mr. Mahama has in times past held Kwame Nkrumah and his ideology, and it was no different this time round, as he hailed him as a visionary who was unappreciated in his time.

“I believe that one of the things he tried to do was to build the infrastructure of this country and use it as a platform to industralise the country. I believe his vision was far ahead of the country itself and most of us didn’t understand what he was trying to do. But today when we look back, we can see what he was trying to make of the is country.”

How the debate began

President Nana Addo’s speech delivered at Ghana’s 60th independence anniversary parade came under attack over what some said was a skewed account of Ghana’s history to suit his father, Edward Akufo Addo and uncle, J.B Danquah who played vital roles in Ghana’s journey towards independence.

Though some have argued that the President did not seek to downplay Nkrumah’s vital role that led to Ghana’s independence, others believe Nana Addo attempted changing Ghana’s history in favour of his father and uncle.

The Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, is one of such persons, who described as palpable falsehood, claims that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah founded independent Ghana.

The Political Science Professor argued that, the independence struggle was not championed by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah alone, and so the glory of independence could therefore not be attributed to him.

But the Convention People’s Party (CPP) insisted the President deliberately skewed Ghana’s history to put his uncle, and father in good light.

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

The post Nkrumah founded Ghana; just as Jesus championed Christianity – Mahama appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The President’s speech  on Independence Day, has been criticized by some Ghanaians over what they say was a skewed account of Ghana’s history to suit his father, Edward Akufo-Addo, and uncle, J.B Danquah who  also played some roles in Ghana’s journey towards independence.

[contextly_sidebar id=”5UirCfRJL6RYfWp6LTlxAWMpp3rrKibZ”]Though the President’s spokesperson, Mustapha Hamid has rubbished these claims, the CPP insists President Akufo Addo tweaked Ghana’s history to please his ancestry.

But speaking on Eyewitness News, Mr. Afenyo-Markin dismissed the CPP’s claims, saying both figures of the argument deserve equal commendation since they all fought for Ghana’s independence

“You cannot compare Apples and Banana, it is not possible. Nana Addo was an elected leader of his party, contested elections and won and by provision of the constitution, he became President of Ghana. The argument is about the Independence struggle which started way back in the 1800’s…we know about the Fante confederacy, we know about UGCC, and we know about the invitation of Nkrumah.Look, what they did was a collective effort…”

He further revealed that, apart from these political heads, there were external stakeholders including chiefs who played their role towards Ghana’s independence.

“Apart from those political heads, there were chiefs who played their role and the trigger of the shooting of the veterans which also catapulted the whole effort into some level of self-governance. Eventually through an election the CPP had majority seats, and of course Nkrumah being its leader had opportunity to be the leader of government business. The issue is not about taking the role of the CPP in the governance of this country. The issue is about acknowledging the collective contribution.”

The Effutu MP thus stated that, it will be a big mistake for only Kwame Nkrumah to be credited for Ghana’s independence.

“Singling out Nkrumah for Ghana’s independence will be a big mistake.Nkrumah holds his place as the country’s first President but singling him as founder is problematic.”

His views contradict that of the CPP’s Director of Communications Kadir Abdul Rauf, who insists President Akufo Addo clearly tweaked Ghana’s history to please his ancestry.

“We as a party can see a deliberate attempt by the President not only to minimize the role of Kwame Nkrumah in the independence struggle of the country, but also to take up arms against the history of our country because for example as a party, we have argued that yes, it doesn’t take one single individual to win independence for people. It must take the efforts and sacrifice of people, but in line with principles of history, it took one person’s efforts to climax several years of people’s trouble and in the case of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah assumed that role and any attempt to minimize or deny Kwame Nkrumah this role is most regrettable.”

According to him, “ if the President[Nana Addo] wants to mention names that he thinks have been left out of the scene then there are other equally important names that he should have mentioned” but failed to do so. Buttressing his point with significant examples, Mr. Kadir

Abdul Rauf said Nana Addo had no businesses giving credit to J.B Danquah and Edward Akuffo, since they dissociated themselves from two significant events that led to Ghana’s independence.”

“We think that the President used a cherry picking attitude to our history and we think that it is most unfortunate and we are opposed to the attitude towards the history of our country. The two most significant events that happened towards the independence of Ghana, JB. Danquah and the rest were not part of it. For example, the 1948 riot which sparked a chain of events that subsequently brought down colonialism in Ghana, J.B Danquah and his colleagues dissociated themselves from it, and they said it was a communist agitator, Kwame Nkrumah who was buying it and they had nothing to do with it.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Crediting only Nkrumah for Ghana’s freedom “big mistake” – Afenyo-Markin appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Some Ghanaians have berated the President’s Independence Day address, claiming it undermined the efforts of Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in the struggle for independence.

But the Information Minister on the Citi Breakfast Show said there’s no deliberate attempt to change the history of the country and that indeed, J.B Danquah and Edward Akufo-Addo played various important roles in the fight for freedom.

“It is the history as it is. People didn’t even know that there were women who fought for our independence. Even for me, that was the first time I heard about the [Akua] Shorshorshor woman, beautiful name like that who sacrificed her every penny. Every nation has what it calls founding fathers. If you go to America, they talk about John Adams, Alexander Hamilton, Thomas Jefferson among others as the founding fathers of America, even though at the same time Washington had a pride of place in American history.”

He argued that “certainly, it cannot be the case that only one person founded this Ghanaian nation,” hence it was important that contributions of other persons are acknowledged.

“It is important that we acknowledge the contributions of people who started the struggle even in the 1800s all the way till 1946, 1947 before even JB Danquah and Nkrumah and the rest came on board. So the president is simply trying to say that a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for, and we should go back and start acknowledging all the heroes and heroines who helped to establish the Ghanaian nation. It is something that we ought to do if we have to excite the patriotism of our people so that tomorrow we are assured that if we were to do something heroic for this nation and go away, this nation will remember us. That is the motivation that will get you to do the extra that you have to do to get this country working again,” he added.

Mustapha Hamid also hinted that, the Ministry of Education will soon roll out a revised curriculum which will instill a sense of pride in young Ghanaians.

“This thing may look like it is intangible, but it is important for us instill this in our young people that this land is a rich land. We are capable and able to live here as young people and to make the best of lives for ourselves. It’s like the so called American dream. It simply means excelling and being independent and creating wealth and prosperity for yourself.”

“And therefore when I wake up every day and say I am Ghanaian, it should go beyond mere citizenship, which is what the president has been saying. Merely holding a passport shouldn’t be what should make you a Ghanaian. What should make you a Ghanaian is self-belief. Self-belief that this land is where you can make the best of your talents, that this land is a land that creates an opportunity for people to be able to exercise their talents and to excel,” he added.

Nkrumah was the best African leader – Mugabe

Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, who was in Ghana for the country’s 60th anniversary, has described Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as a true revolutionist who fought for the emancipation of Ghana and Africa.

The 93-year old President made the remark while addressing the media at Ghana’s seat of government, the Flagstaff House on Tuesday.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Akufo-Addo didn’t skew Ghana’s history – Mustapha Hamid appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

The 93-year old President made the remark while addressing the media at a special gathering at a hotel in Accra on Tuesday.

[contextly_sidebar id=”WgYNO4JjX6h513VWCDEEj1sfBRPE50eu”]He used the opportunity to pay glowing tribute to the late Ghanaian leader, adding that he sees qualities of Ghana’s first President in President Akufo-Addo.

Mugabe said he upholds the teachings of Nkrumah in high esteem saying “I preached Nkrumah.”

He further praised Dr. Nkrumah for assisting some African countries to gain independence.

Mr. Mugabe was part of other African leaders who graced Ghana’s 60^th Independence Day parade in Accra on 6^th March 2017.

Mr. Mugabe is connected to Ghana in many ways as he once taught as a teacher in Ghana, and got a Ghanaian wife.

The Zimbabwean leader’s comment comes on the back of criticisms by a section of Ghanaians who argued that President Akufo-Addo’s speech at the Black Star Square sought to skew Ghana’s history to favour his political lineage as against the Nkrumah narrative.

Akufo-Addo didn’t skew Ghana’s history

But the President’s spokesperson, Mustapha Hamid, has rejected claims that the President tried to skew Ghana’s history to favour his father, Edward Akufo-Addo, and uncle, J.B. Dankwa, who also played a key role in the fight for independence.

Zimbabwe’s Presidential Spokesperson and Information, Media and Broadcasting Services permanent secretary, George Charamba, earlier told the media that Ghana was a torch bearer of African independence.

“For us, Ghana is a symbol of African freedom struggles and independence and by going back to Ghana, His Excellency is associating himself with the politics and persuasion of Ghana in the context of Africa’s struggles for independence. Secondly, the President had a teaching stint in Ghana soon after its independence, so there is an emotional attachment to his return there besides the marital factor. Because of the President’s presence in Ghana at that critical time, he became a vector through which Ghana’s pan-African politics and instruments of the struggle were introduced into nationalist politics in the then Rhodesia,” he added.

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By: Godwin A. Allotey/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @AlloteyGodwin

The post Nkrumah was the best African leader – Mugabe appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Today [Friday, February 24], 2017, marks 51 years of the overthrow of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. At a ceremony to mark the day, the National Chairman of the Party, Professor Edmund Delle, said the country was saddled with major unemployment issues.

In February 1966, while Dr. Nkrumah was on a state visit to Vietnam and China, his government was overthrown in a military coup led by Emmanuel Kwasi Kotoka and the National Liberation Council.

According to him, the country lacks basic social amenities because years after Dr. Nkrumah’s ousting, successive governments are yet to follow his footsteps to alleviate the suffering of the masses.

He noted that today, there are foreign powers who study Nkrumaism because they understand Nkrumah’s ideology was a danger to their interests.

Find below the full address from the press conference

Today marks the 51st year of the tragic event that happened at dawn on Thursday the 24th of February, 1966. Traitors from the Ghana Police Force, the Ghana Armed Forces together with elements of the erstwhile United Party collaborated with their foreign paymasters; the CIA, MI6 and other intelligence agencies to derail and overthrow the Ghana project and subvert the Africa revolution which as lead by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

On that tragic day, many patriots were killed by Kotoka, Afrifa, Harlley and their henchmen when they stormed the Flagstaff House in the absence of Osagyefo. With the betrayal of General Ocran, Major-General Bawa was murdered in the cold blood together with some of his guards and home employees at his residence by General Afrifa on the accounts of his daughter, Ms. Abiba Bawa. The CIA had cut communication lines which prevented the TUC from mobilizing. The President’s own guard detachments at the Shai Hills were stopped from intervening. Despite the heroic effort of Colonel Zanlerigu and others, the progressive forces had to give up the fight, to halt further bloodshed.

The dark days into which the National Liberation Council (NLC) and their political allies from the UP ushered our beloved country still hangs our heads, even till this day. Real Industrialization, free quality universal education, mass infrastructure development, a progressive and dynamic planned economic development with ownership of our resources was stopped on the pretext that they were prestigious projects.

Fellow comrades, as we mark this significant day in our lives as a party and as a nation today, I wish to say a big thank you to the over 25,000 Ghanaians who voted for us in the just ended elections. You are the ones we will re-build the party with. Your true loyalty and continuous support to the CPP is well acknowledged. Very soon, we will be reaching out to you. This would be done in the shortest possible time.

To the teaming YOUTHS out there, I say ayeeeekoooo! To the strong CPP WOMEN out there, I say thank you for your continuous support. To all members and sympathizers of the CPP out there, I can only ask you never to stop believing in the CPP. The future looks great and we will get there. We will never walk alone because the spirit of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah lives in us forever. To our council of elders who have stood by the party right down from their early days as YOUNG PIONEERS till this day, I say; May God bless you, give you long live to continually guide us to the promise land.

My administration is working hard to keep the forte going. My leadership and Central Committee members are solidly behind the party and have assured me of their continuous support the cause of Osagyefo.

Nobody is above the party. Our constitution remains supreme and discipline remains the order of the day. Let’s join hands and fight till we see the CPP in power again to relief this nation of its woes to an eternal economic freedom. I thank you all.

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By: Anass Seidu/citifmonline.com/Ghana

The post CPP marks 51 years of Nkrumah’s overthrow today appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

According to him, President John Dramani is the second President who has the highest record of infrastructural projects apart from former President Kwame Nkrumah.

Speaking at the NDC’s Manifesto launch at Sunyani in the Brong Ahafo Region today [Saturday], Mr. Ofosu Ampofo appealed to Ghanaians to give the President another opportunity to fulfill all his promises.

“Our President has demonstrated enough capacity tenacity, strength, capacity and the intellectual ability and the managerial capacity to lead this country…

“In fact, if you take Kwame Nkrumah out in terms of infrastructural development, President John Dramani Mahama stands very tall and I believe that with the good works that he has started, the best that we can do for Ghana, the best thing we can do for the future of this country and the generation yet unborn, is to allow President John Mahama to continue with his second term and ensure that he delivers on the promises and sends Ghana to the promised land.”

We chose B/A for strategic reasons 

Mr. Ofosu Ampofo, who doubles as the party’s Director of Elections, explained that the party decided to hold its manifesto launch in Sunyani for “strategic reasons.”

“Brong Ahafo is a “very strategic region for us for organisation and strategic purposes. It is one of the three swing regions in our country and so in our scheme of things, we thought that having launched our campaign in the Central Region, which is also one of the swing regions, we will move to Brong Ahafo to launch the manifesto so it is for very strategic reasons. Again the Brong Ahafo Region is centrally placed. Such that it is very easy to connect the South to the North; and so movement of our people towards this area is not a problem at all.”

He further explained that, the event will give the rank and file of the party an opportunity to “know the tenets of the manifesto, the pillars of the manifesto and go and campaign based on that.”

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By: Marian Ansah/citifmonline.com/Ghana
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The post Mahama next to Nkrumah in terms of dev’t – Ofosu Ampofo appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.