Founders' Day Debate: What Akufo-Addo's father, two other judges said about Obetsebi Lamptey

The Managing Editor of the Insight newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has, in his opposition to the Founders’ Day argument by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and members of the New Patriotic Party, made an interesting historical revelation.

Speaking on Pan African TV, Kwesi Pratt noted that one of the persons, Emmanuel Obetsebi Lamptey, whom President Akufo-Addo wants recognized as a founder of Ghana, was once convicted of terrorism by the president’s father.

Kwesi Pratt disclosed that Edward Akufo-Addo, who was part of a three-member judging panel, found Obetsebi Lamptey guilty of engaging in acts of treason and condemned him to jail.

“The father of the current president and two other judges, Justice Van Lare and Justice Aku Korsah, tried Obetsebi Lamptey and in their judgment described him as a terrorist. They sentenced him and put him in jail. Akufo-Addo's father was one of three judges who convicted Obetsebi Lamptey as a terrorist and committed him to prison.

“If we are being told today to celebrate Obetsebi Lamptey as a founder of this republic, is that not an insult? The judgment is available in a document titled 'Terrorism Under Nkrumah'. Today, President Akufo-Addo and the NPP want us to adopt a terrorist as a founder of a republic. I feel so insulted,” Pratt said.

In his speech to mark the commemoration of Founders’ Day on August 4, 2024, President Akufo-Addo said that while Kwame Nkrumah played an integral role in the country’s drive towards independence, it is erroneous and untenable to accord him the privilege of being the founder of Ghana.

“I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” the president said in his broadcast.

President Akufo-Addo enumerated some persons whom he believes were integral in the fight towards independence and deserve to be celebrated alongside Kwame Nkrumah.

“The formation of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, the British West African National Congress, the United Gold Coast Convention, the work of countless unsung heroes, and the tenacious spirit of our people all played vital parts in bringing us to freedom and independence.

“Kwame Nkrumah, with his charismatic and visionary leadership, was undoubtedly a major actor in the final lap of our journey to independence. That is why, despite the several unfortunate things that happened after independence under his watch, Parliament in 2019 decided to memorialize his date of birth as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, the only Ghanaian so far to be so honored in our history.”

Parliament in 2019 passed a law establishing August 4 as Founders’ Day and September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.

Meanwhile, GhanaWeb is set to premiere a documentary on playwright Uncle Ebo Whyte on Monday, August 19, 2024. Watch the trailer below:





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