President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has maintained his stance, opposing the notion that an individual founded Ghana.
In his 2024 Founders’ Day address, President Akufo-Addo rejected claims that Kwame Nkrumah single-handedly founded Ghana, emphasising that the struggle for independence was a collective effort.
Although he acknowledged Dr Nkrumah’s significant contributions, he stressed that the nation’s freedom was achieved through the efforts of many generations.
But addressing the ongoing debate surrounding the commemoration of August 4 as Founders Day, he acknowledged the differing perspectives on Ghana’s history.
Speaking on the matter at the senior citizen’s luncheon at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo noted, “I know that there are some who question the ceremony – that is 4th August as Founders Day, because they believe that we were all asleep in Ghana until the arrival of Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP.”
“I have already stated my views on that several times, including in my speech last Saturday evening. I don’t intend to go over that matter again,” he said.
In 2019, Parliament established August 4 as Founders’ Day to honour all who contributed to Ghana’s independence, and September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
However, this stance has sparked protests from those who support Nkrumah’s singular role, including the Convention Peoples Party (CPP).
President Akufo-Addo, however, emphasised his support for the consensus reached by Parliament in 2019, which recognises both the significance of Kwame Nkrumah and the importance of August 4 in Ghana’s history.
According to him, “Preserving the critical importance of August 4 in our history is a good consensus and it deserves to last.”
The former President John Mahama argued that Ghana’s history is well-known and promised to restore the previous historical narrative if elected, criticising the United Gold Coast Convention, which included J.B. Danquah, for historically opposing Ghana’s independence.
