The Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) has alleged that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is engaged in a deliberate ongoing attempt to devalue the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as the founder of Ghana.
This, according to them, is aimed at rewriting history to favour one of the party’s founders, Dr. J. B. Danquah, who according to SMG, played just a “modest” role in Ghana’s struggle for independence.
However, this attempt, they say, has failed woefully due to the vigilance of Ghanaians.
In a statement signed by the General Secretary, Kwesi Pratt, ahead of the Founder’s Day celebration on September 21, the Group claimed that the NPP has spread falsehood in favour of Dr. J.B Danquah in an attempt to magnify him and name him the founder of Ghana, which is contrary to historical facts.
“President Akufo-Addo has spared no opportunity to lionise, particularly the middling role of his grand-uncle and tribal icon, Dr. J.B. Danquah, in national history. Akufo-Addo has falsely claimed that Dr Danquah originated the notion that the Gold Coast should be renamed Ghana. The record shows that Danquah favoured the name Akanland (reflecting his ethnic bias),” portions of the statement read.
The statement cited a number of activities of the Akufo- Addo-led NPP government as evidence of its claims.
“This attack on history has taken many forms – speeches, changes to school textbooks, alteration of guidebooks at museums and historical sites, and even crass redevelopment of the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum from a place of sober reflection to a gaudy entertainment centre.”
The statement particularly mentioned the amendment of the Public Holidays Act 2019 as the most profound of all the ploys used by the NPP, describing it as a “subtle but dangerous institutional attack” on the national identity of the Ghanaian people.
“First, it has sought to trivialise 21st September as a personalised celebration of Nkrumah’s birthday – not in his historical role as “Founder” of Ghana… it has designated 4th August 1947 founding of UGCC as founders day…the Act demoted “Republic Day” and “African Union Day” (itself a disrespectful re-naming of “Africa Liberation Day”) from “national holiday” to mere commemorative days. ”
The Group also cited the campaigns of the NPP’s vice presidential candidate, alleging that Dr. Matthew Opoku-Prempeh has made “disrespect for Nkrumah a central pillar of his campaign.”
The statement, however, commended Ghanaians for their role in ensuring that this agenda is unsuccessful, but warned that the NPP could intensify its efforts in achieving this agenda.
