Nkrumah founded Ghana – Mahama

Former President John Mahama has waded into the age-long but revived debate over whether Ghana has a single founder or founders.

In the view of Mr. Mahama “Osagyefo’s emergence as the Founder of modern Ghana and an international symbol of freedom was not by accident”.

The comment by Mr. Mahama comes as President Akufo-Addo is set to propose to Parliament to adopt August 4 as Founders’ Day for the Republic.

The proposal will also request parliament to approve September 21 as a holiday to be observed in honour of Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

In a statement, the President bemoaned the confusion that has heralded the role previous leaders played towards Ghana’s independence.

“It is unfortunate that 60 years after independence, the history of the events leading to it continues to be embroiled in unnecessary controversy, due largely to partisan political considerations of the moment,” the statement said.

Commenting on the controversy regarding the incident, the former President took to Facebook and wrote: “On the 21st day of September, I join millions all over the world to remember Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah- the Founder of Ghana, a global icon and the BBC Listeners “Man of the Millennium”.

“Osagyefo’s emergence as the Founder of modern Ghana and an international symbol of freedom was not by accident. He was a Pan-Africanist, a philosopher, a writer, and a visionary who matched his words with actions. His towering personality is still recognized in Ghana and beyond”.

He continued: “It remains a dark irony of our history that, the very political tradition which conspired to truncate his unparalleled vision on 24th February 1966, is today seeking to revise Ghana’s history.

“The song “Kwame Nkrumah never dies” has proved true not in the sense of his immortality but in the fact that his name will continue to be written in letters of gold whenever the history of Ghana, Africa and the world is recounted.

“It is an indisputable fact that Nkrumah was the critical spark that put Ghana on a high velocity path to independence. Happy Founder’s Day Fellow Ghanaians”.