Today remains ‘Founder’s Day’; Mahama stokes debate

John Mahama SospFormer President John Mahama

Former President John Mahama is stoking the bitter debate about a day set aside to celebrate Kwame Nkrumah, stating that September 21 should be celebrated as ‘Founder’s Day’.

There is a school of thought that believes the day should be marked s ‘Founders Day’ in honour of other independence day agitators that started the fight for Ghana’s liberation from British colonial rule before Kwame Nkrumah came on the scene.

The day was instituted by late President John Evans Atta Mills as Founder’s Day but the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition — the ideology that sustains the governing New Patriotic Party — says the day must recognise the likes of J.B. Danquah, Dr Abrefa Busia and other independence day strugglers who invited Dr Nkrumah to take part in the liberation movement.

However, in a short Facebook message to mark the statutory holiday today, Mr Mahama posted: “Today remains our country’s Founder’s Day – a special day to reflect on the life and works of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. His contribution to pan-Africanism is beyond Africa. His vision for Ghana is profound. On this day, let us recall his vision and commit to the total and integrated development of Ghana and Africa.”

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