Going biblical to back his points, former president Mahama stated categorically that Kwame Nkrumah founded Ghana, just as Jesus Christ championed Christianity.
Finally speaking on the controversial issue, former President Mahama has decided to voice out his stand on the seemingly unending debate over the founding fathers of Ghana. The ex-President has stated categorically that Kwame Nkrumah founded Ghana just as Jesus Christ championed Christianity.
Mahama made these assertions while speaking during the first book reading session of his autobiography; ‘My first Coup d’etat’ at the University of Ghana on Tuesday. The former president while answering questions at the book tour compared the dynamics surrounding Ghana’s independence history to that of Christianity.
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.
Former President Mahama dismissed notions that the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), are out to relegate significant efforts made by other persons who played a role in Ghana’s independence. He was however, quick to stress that the spark of Ghana’s independence was to be given due reverence. This he explained is the major reason why the legendary Nkrumah is placed on a high pedestal by the people who do.
Emphasizing his stand that Nkrumah founded Ghana, ex-President Mahama went ahead to tout the ground-breaking achievements of the founding father. Kwame Nkrumah he said, had a lot of vision in terms of education, health and so many areas of Ghana’s national development. Mahama explained that the legend established Ghana’s infrastructure and used it as a platform to industrialize the country.
Kwame Nkrumah’s vision he said, was far ahead of the country itself and Ghana of today should come to terms to the facts.
Till today, political stakeholders are yet to arrive at a consensus over the long-lasting argument on who Ghana’s founding father really is. This debate was re-awoken after President Nana Addo’s speech during the [email protected] Independence celebration, which reportedly gave less recognition to Kwame Nkrumah.
Nana Addo had come under intense criticisms after being accused by a section of Ghanaians of giving a preferential account of Ghana’s independence story. Nana Addo was said to have tailored his speech to suit his father, Edward Akufo Addo and uncle, J. B Danquah who played vital roles in Ghana’s journey towards independence.
Though the President has debunked these claims with some credible reasons, the debate continues to strive, as there are people who share the idea that Dr Nkrumah is not the only founding father of Ghana.
One of such persons is Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye who recently described as palpable falsehood, claims that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah founded independent Ghana. The Speaker has called for the inclusion of other personalities who played significant roles in Ghana’s independence.
This he said, making reference to Founders day -Sept 21 which is a national public holiday observed in Ghana to mark the birthday of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah. This particular day he said should be only celebrated as the first president’s birthday and not as founder’s day, as Ghana has other founding fathers.
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