Samia calls for truce on Ghana founding debate

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Dr. med.William Acquah,Germany 12 years ago

You are right,Samia!This hatred must stop!Your father did a lot for us all but jealousy on the part of others, will not help us move ahead.Who did what and created what isn`t important.We have to solve the lots and lots of pr ...
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You are right,Samia!This hatred must stop!Your father did a lot for us all but jealousy on the part of others, will not help us move ahead.Who did what and created what isn`t important.We have to solve the lots and lots of problems facing our people and not indulge in a founding debate,which doesn`t improve the living conditions of our people.
insight to the bone 12 years ago

Fake leaders claim thrones without building kingdoms as pepeni has done by murdering mills . today there is another divide and that is the north south whereby these Muslims think its their god given right to plunder and oppre ...
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Fake leaders claim thrones without building kingdoms as pepeni has done by murdering mills . today there is another divide and that is the north south whereby these Muslims think its their god given right to plunder and oppress the Akans. Just as pharaoh had pestilence after pestilence , no water , no electricity , no infrastructure , no development, chinese locusts poisoning our lands and waters ,corruption and death everywhere and the people suffer. they are blind to see the will of God and in their selfish fantasies think its a right or their turn to pillage the coffers . they send their chariots or special police and army to try in put fear in the children of God the Akans . we are told their plan is to start shooting first and again blame the Akans so we must now prepare and make sure when they do not a single one leaves alive . we number millions and can never be defeated by your mischievous fools . THe lord has promised us freedom and nobody with their trickery and biased toilet carrying pepeni judges can stop it.It is time to take the children to the villages and prepare to defend ourselves against this evil pepeni , long live the republic of Akan
Kafui Ama 12 years ago

Author: Kafui Ama

Please be patient and read this to the end.

By Craig Murray, former Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana

In 2004, Craig Murray was famously removed as British Ambassador in Uzbekistan a ...
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Author: Kafui Ama

Please be patient and read this to the end.

By Craig Murray, former Deputy British High Commissioner to Ghana

In 2004, Craig Murray was famously removed as British Ambassador in Uzbekistan after accusing the Uzbek government of human rights abuses. But from 1998 to 2002, Murray served as Deputy High Commissioner in Ghana. Here he tells how, against all odds, he helped leave a legacy of free and fair elections in the African country... It was November 1999 and I'd been Deputy High Commissioner in Ghana for almost a year - the culmination of 15 years' Foreign Office service in Nigeria, Warsaw and the equatorial Africa department in London.

I'd always been passionate about Africa and had immersed myself in its minutiae. Nevertheless, my father, who had a timber yard in Ghana in the Sixties, offered a little extra counsel before I departed, aged 40. 'If you see any good-looking girl, aged about 30, light skinned, whatever you do, don't touch her - she could be your sister!'

Not that this was a big concern for me. My most pressing duty was the 1999 State Visit by the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, Enhanced Coverage Linking the Duke of Edinburgh, -Search using: Biographies Plus News, Most Recent 60 Days, accompanied by Robin Cook, the then Foreign Secretary. It was a three-day blur of activity, the teeming crowds displaying an uncomplicated and old-fashioned reverence.

A warning that the Duke was averse to looking at things without useful purpose proved absolutely right. As we stood looking at the strip of brass laid in a churchyard that marked the line of the Greenwich Meridian, he said to me: 'A line in the ground, eh? Very nice.'

Ghana epitomises much of the best of Africa, but also throws into relief the tragedy of the continent. It has maintained its higher education and has fewer extremes of wealth than elsewhere. But at independence in 1957, Ghana was richer than Argentina, Brazil, Malaysia or Singapore. Today, those countries are at least ten times as wealthy.

Corruption, cronyism, economic mismanagement, irresponsible lending by the West and the dumping of cheap food all did for Ghana. When I arrived with my wife Fiona, and children Jamie and Emily, Ghana had been ruled for 20 years by Flight Lieutenant Jerry Rawlings.

The son of a Stirlingshire pharmacist and a local woman, he seized power in a coup in 1979, but claimed to have won presidential elections in 1992 and 1996, despite allegations of vote-rigging.
In his early years, Rawlings unleashed a political terror on Ghana. His campaign against the middle classes resembled Mao's Cultural Revolution. People were persecuted for having savings or two indoor lavatories. Market women were sometimes killed for 'profiteering'.

The Queen's visit delighted Rawlings, who craved international respectability. I, too, was determined to make the most of the trip, by helping ensure Rawlings gave up power by the start of 2001, as the constitution required because he had served two four-year terms.

The Queen's speech to the parliament in the capital, Accra, was to be the focus of the visit and I had contributed to its drafting. It contained the usual guff about a future based upon partnership, but there was a sting in the tail. 'Next, year, Mr President,' the Queen intoned, 'you will step down after two terms in office in accordance with your constitution.' The opposition benches went wild and the Queen stopped, looking in bewilderment at the hullabaloo.

Afterwards, Robin Cook was furious. 'It's a disaster. Who the hell drafted that?'

'Er, I did, Secretary of State,' I said. 'I might have guessed! Who the hell approved it?' 'You did.' Cook's Private Secretary had to dig out the draft he had signed. After the State banquet, I retired to a hotel bar with the Royal Household. The senior staff had withdrawn to allow the butlers, footmen and hairdressers to let off steam.

The party appeared, to a man, to be gay. Not just gay, but outrageously camp. We'd taken the hotel for the Royal party, but allowed the British Airways crew to stay. Now three cabin stewards, two Royal footmen and a Royal hairdresser were grouped around the piano singing hits from Cabaret. I was seated on a sofa and across from me in an armchair was a member of the Household who seemed out of place. The valet looked to be in his 60s, a grizzled NCO with tufts of hair either side of a bald pate, a boxer's nose and tattoos on his arms.

He was smoking roll-ups. I turned to the old warrior and said: 'Don't you find all this a bit strange sometimes?' He lent forward, put his hand on my bare knee below the kilt I wore on ceremonial occasions and said: 'Listen, ducks. I was in the Navy for 30 years.' I think he was joking, but some things are too weird even for me. The lower reaches of the Royal Household are one of them.

One enjoyable aspect of our time in Ghana was the constant stream of visitors. Among them was Peter Hain, the Minister for Africa. Hain, a good footballer, agreed to play in a charity match between children from a community football scheme and the High Commission.

Unfortunately, the ground was hard and the opposition turned out to be super-fit professionals. After a heavy tackle, I went down. Result: a dislocated shoulder. I couldn't move my arm for eight weeks. Other visitors included Clare Short, at the time Secretary of State for International Development.

She was in Ghana to try to persuade it to join a debt relief scheme. At a dinner for her, a Minister had made a speech about how much Ghana had learnt from the British Empire. Short stood up and expostulated: 'The British Empire! Don't tell me about the British Empire. I know about British colonialism. My father was Irish and we know about British colonialism. I'll tell you what the British did to your country. They exploited it, that's what they did. They exploited it.' After a few moments of stunned silence, the dinner continued.

On another occasion we were joined by Bobby Charlton, who came to Ghana seeking support for England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup. He was still an astounding player at 60 and it was good of him to get on the pitch for a local community football programme. Nevertheless, I found Charlton disappointing. He was self-centred and ratty - one of those heroes you wish you hadn't met.

Conversely, Roger Moore, a UNICEF goodwill ambassador, was charming and suave, just as you would expect, with a fund of brilliant stories beginning with lines such as: 'One day, Frank, Dean, Tony and I decided to play a trick on Marilyn ... ' He was also well briefed about children's issues in Ghana and was prepared not just to do PR, but to get his hands dirty helping in refugee camps without a camera in sight.

I was less taken with Jamie Theakston.

The BBC were filming a wildlife programme in Ghana, looking at the endangered green turtle population near Ada. A group of young volunteers had accompanied the BBC team to help the newly-born turtles to reach the ocean. But one girl, in her mid-20s, had streams of mascara running down her cheeks. She claimed Theakston had just broken up with her - yet here he was, surrounded by young women, enjoying the adulation.

I had bigger concerns, however. Ghana's presidential and parliamentary elections were due in December 2000 and there were signs that its 11 million voters might be preparing for a change of government. Enthusiasm for politics was everywhere. Even in the meanest village, people gathered under the banyan tree listening to FM stations on a battered transistor and arguing about the coming change.

In the West, tired of our politicians' deceit, we no longer much value democracy. It is wonderful to see a people exercising for the first time their power over those who would govern them. Our job was to see the elections were free and fair, with Britain funding a £10 million programme for photo-ID cards to reduce electoral fraud. The exercise eradicated one million fake names.

Another practical new weapon was indelible ink: when somebody voted, their thumb was painted to stop them casting more than one vote. India was the only source of a truly permanent ink that could not be washed or rubbed off. I had also persuaded the Foreign Office to provide experts from the Electoral Reform Society. Further valuable additions were two British MPs, Roger Gale and Nigel Jones.

Rawlings's party, the National Democratic Congress ( NDC), put up the vice President, John Atta Mills, as its presidential candidate. The opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) fielded John Kufuor. There is a tribal element in Ghanaian politics: the Ewe people vote overwhelmingly NDC; the Ashanti overwhelmingly NPP.

It was clear the governing party would not abandon power easily. Alarmed that it would lose, it had the high court declare the ID cards illegal because they disenfranchised legitimate voters. But the ruling was to no avail - the people took over. Polling station officers decided they were going to use ID cards anyway.

When first- round votes on December 7 were tallied, Kufuor had 48.4 per cent against Atta Mills's 44.8 per cent. The opposition was heading for a small majority but, with no candidate exceeding 50 per cent, a run- off was required. Ghana's 30 or so FM stations were vital in bringing democracy, so it was no surprise that the NDC moved against them.

On the evening before the poll, I took Roger Gale and Nigel Jones to visit Joy FM, possibly Ghana's most influential station. We were sitting in the office when an armed posse of Rawlings's security men arrived, saying they were closing the station on the President's instructions.

‘Good evening,' I said. ‘I am Craig Murray, Deputy British High Commissioner, and these gentlemen are Mr Roger Gale MP and Mr Nigel Jones MP, members of the British Parliament.' Gale added: ' Obviously there has been some mistake.

I thought I heard you say that you were closing down the station, but we are here to visit our fellow democracy, Ghana, and democracies don't close down radio stations.' The goons left. Joy FM never was closed. However, the NDC started to think I was a part of their problem and they assigned a secret service team to follow me around.

As the second round on December 28 approached, we discovered a problem: not enough Indian ink. We had paid for more, but it had to be specially made and would not be ready until December 24. This was cutting it tight and action was needed. Chartering a private plane to set off from India on Christmas Eve was easier said than done. Whitehall was in festive mode and unlikely to sanction spending quickly, so I used the Embassy's budget to pay for it.

Ghana's government did not want the Indian ink to get in and I was concerned it would be delayed by customs officials. So on Christmas Day 2000, instead of eating turkey, I stood baking on the airport tarmac. When our plane taxied in, we unloaded the boxes of little ink bottles on to two trucks. I escorted these out of the VIP gateway, helped by a substantial tip to the guards.

The truck drivers then delivered the ink to regional centres for distribution to constituencies. This was a game being played for high stakes, with real danger of civil war.

Hotheads in the ruling party might claim electoral fraud and mount a military takeover. The Ashanti could also react violently to losing. Every embassy was updating evacuation plans. Around 1am, the results started to come in. There was a more or less consistent swing to the opposition candidate, John Kufuor. You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife.

The coolest man in Ghana that night was the wry, chain-smoking Electoral Commissioner, Kwadwo Afari- Gyan, who received constant threatening phone calls instructing him to fix the result. Each time, the Electoral Commissioner replied: ' The result will be what the result will be. I am just making sure it is fairly counted.' Then, taking his umpteenth call, he stiffened. He summoned me to listen: it was his wife. Soldiers had come to their bungalow, taking her and his children hostage and threatening to kill them if he did not deliver the ' right' result.

Kwadwo barked down the phone: ' Put their leader on.' ‘Listen you little *****,' he snarled. 'How dare you come to my house and threaten my wife and children. I am sitting here with the British Deputy High Commissioner and he knows what is happening. Now get out of my home before we have you thrown into jail!' The soldier said: ' Yes, sir; sorry, sir.' Kwadwo then told his wife not to worry and calmly returned to his work.

By 3am on the second night only two constituencies were still to declare. Even if every voter there went for Atta Mills, Kufuor could still not be beaten.

The opposition had won - an African country ... had shown that democratic change could be achieved peacefully. Kufuor's eight years as President saw economic growth of more than 70 per cent - the first prolonged period since independence when Ghana was not getting poorer. But Ghanaians chose to exercise their democratic right to change and earlier this month narrowly elected Atta Mills.

Ghana is the only country in Africa to achieve the democratic norm of power alternating peacefully between parties at successive uninterrupted elections.

As I look back on my involvement with Africa over 30 years, I remain most proud of helping Ghanaians to attain democracy. It is an example that sadly, the rest of the continent has so far done little to follow.

But Ghana remains there - a glimmer of hope, an example to others and a rebuke to cynics who claim democracy is not possible in Africa.
facts 12 years ago

Samia is right but Oquaye is also right. The UGCC did well for starting it all and by inviting Nkrumah who also did his part to help.

Samia is right but Oquaye is also right. The UGCC did well for starting it all and by inviting Nkrumah who also did his part to help.
ATSU, HO 12 years ago

NKRUMAH OBVIOUSLY WAS A GREAT LEADER, HIS WORKS ARE THERE FOR ALL TO SEE, HIS LIMITATIONS ARE ALSO KNOWN. AT LEAST THE WORK HE DID DOES NOT FIT THE DEFINITION OF A FOUNDER OF A NATION FROM THE KNOWN FACTS.
LET US CONCENTRATE ...
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NKRUMAH OBVIOUSLY WAS A GREAT LEADER, HIS WORKS ARE THERE FOR ALL TO SEE, HIS LIMITATIONS ARE ALSO KNOWN. AT LEAST THE WORK HE DID DOES NOT FIT THE DEFINITION OF A FOUNDER OF A NATION FROM THE KNOWN FACTS.
LET US CONCENTRATE ON SOLVING THE PROBLEMS OF TODAY, TO THAT EXTENT I AGREE WITH SAMIA.
KB 12 years ago

Fuck off!

Fuck off!
www.ghanatv.weebly.com 12 years ago

Watch TV3, GTV live, Adom, Joy and Many more. Go to www.ghanatv.weebly.com

Watch TV3, GTV live, Adom, Joy and Many more. Go to www.ghanatv.weebly.com
Nicholas J Bedzo 12 years ago

This is not one person idea but group
ideas,

This is not one person idea but group
ideas,
osei yaw - london 12 years ago

Another twisted history from that bogus Legon History Department headed by their semi educated top man Mike Ocquaye; for, looking for colonised Gold Coast colonial agitators

- the Englishman colonial master knew only ONE ...
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Another twisted history from that bogus Legon History Department headed by their semi educated top man Mike Ocquaye; for, looking for colonised Gold Coast colonial agitators

- the Englishman colonial master knew only ONE big ONE; and it was Kwame Nkrumah

- the other FIVE were all comfortable cantankerous coconuts (black outside but white inside); led by Akim coward (Kumasi Fort), murderer (Apedwa) and terrorist (Kulungugu) JB Danquah

- there was never a Big Six

Osei Wusu-Khanin / osei yaw - london
Philip Adu Bonsra 12 years ago

Danquah the CIA man

Danquah the CIA man

NANA KUFUOR 12 years ago

How can a bomb thrower and a traitor be a founder? Mike Oquaye thought we did not know he is also a traitor. When sent to India as Ghana High commissioner, he arranged to be looting the Embassy of precious dollars for one who ...
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How can a bomb thrower and a traitor be a founder? Mike Oquaye thought we did not know he is also a traitor. When sent to India as Ghana High commissioner, he arranged to be looting the Embassy of precious dollars for one whole year.
G. K. Berko 12 years ago

What Murray knows more than us is the plot his Country and others have chiseled in stone to undermine our progress, no matter what Government comes to Power in our Countries. But on such core obstacle to our Advancement, he w ...
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What Murray knows more than us is the plot his Country and others have chiseled in stone to undermine our progress, no matter what Government comes to Power in our Countries. But on such core obstacle to our Advancement, he would not claim to know the truth.

We are no stranger to our own faults and errors. He should not be sanctimonious about our plight. It is most annoying to hear someone like him pontificating to us about morals in Politics, while the real inspiration for anyone among us to turn around and hurt the rest of us comes from Murray's backyard and possibly his own home.

Let Murray tell us what he knows about the many Economic sabotages and Political blackmailing his people and their allies have been perpetrating against us and all of Africa. Let Murray tell us what his Government role was in the divesting of our Telecoms to Vodafone, or the sale of Ashanti Gold to the British South African firm, or the deals that led Kosmos and Tullow to own so much of our Oil.

The same attitude is what we have seen in the Galamsey that many Chinese have come to be blamed for. All these foreign entities seek their self-interest first and above our own. We do not see any right-up-in-the-middle partnering with these foreign elements. Yet, after taking what they can and leading the few they used to cheat us to seize the rest from us, they turn around to insinuate that they have higher morals than we have.

Would Murray fully endorse our reciprocal banning of all Caucasian Anglos who would not have f1 Million (Pounds Sterling) to show us from setting foot on our soil?

Yes, we have problems with our local Politicians. But much of their motivation is derived from the old and still existing legacy of Master-Slave relationships that the Colonial Masters left us. Our local Politicians see themselves as our new Lords that we must serve, instead of them serving us.

Even in our much preferred current Democratic dispensation, real Democracy evades us because grafting and cronyism with long tenterhooks that reach beyond the Seas adulterates what our Constitution says we deserve.

Long Live Ghana!!
G. K. Berko 12 years ago

I meant to say:
1). "..his Government's role...
2). "..because grafting and cronyism..adulterate what.."

I meant to say:
1). "..his Government's role...
2). "..because grafting and cronyism..adulterate what.."
MP 12 years ago

Koseani, you seem to be singing useless wokum apim a apim beba music with those kokoophonic syllable. I do not know what you are grumbling about but you should understand that your education at this stage is only making you l ...
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Koseani, you seem to be singing useless wokum apim a apim beba music with those kokoophonic syllable. I do not know what you are grumbling about but you should understand that your education at this stage is only making you look like a krakye and nothing else more or less. Go back and farm on Wofa Medie's cocoa farm or otherwise tell Koo Burger to get you to Loenden or Ghyamae as your people do apraprae wouldwide? Go, Kofi kronfuo, go to them or learn to put up or shut up.
KB 12 years ago

Listen to this coward. How many of you will leave their fufu and AKRATIE beni soup and face the PEPEFUO and the ewes. You will be wiped off and the rest of you will run and leave your sandals behind. Just remain behind the c ...
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Listen to this coward. How many of you will leave their fufu and AKRATIE beni soup and face the PEPEFUO and the ewes. You will be wiped off and the rest of you will run and leave your sandals behind. Just remain behind the computer and talk less your stinking akrantie beni ass will be whipped. Siege barawo banza.
Ka Na Wu 12 years ago

Who said my father found Ghana Period! She has run. The Egyptian Prostitute has run.

Who said my father found Ghana Period! She has run. The Egyptian Prostitute has run.
william 12 years ago

'A HIDDEN 'NA NA WU' COMMENTATOR IS STILL A COWARD DYING MANY TIMES BEFORE HIS DEATH. PATHETIC!

'A HIDDEN 'NA NA WU' COMMENTATOR IS STILL A COWARD DYING MANY TIMES BEFORE HIS DEATH. PATHETIC!
Nicholas J Bedzo 12 years ago

ln a country of blinds,one eyed person
is the Kin.

ln a country of blinds,one eyed person
is the Kin.
CA 12 years ago

Yes but the truth no one talks about is that, Nkrumah gave all ghana's money to other countries in Africa just to get more popular so he can become a president of the whole Africa. Building stadiums and other things for some ...
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Yes but the truth no one talks about is that, Nkrumah gave all ghana's money to other countries in Africa just to get more popular so he can become a president of the whole Africa. Building stadiums and other things for some countries in Africa including Egypt things and buildings we don't have in ghana. And never completed a single project the British had started and that is the reason why none of our leaders tries to completes the projects that the past president started before living out of office.
This needs to be properly address for our nation to move forward.
Nkrumah wasted all our money on other countries just to get name to himself.
Second, there has never been a single person making things happen, there is always a group and the group appoints one as their leader and that doesn't mean that, that person alone gets all the credits and this is just logical common sense that everyone must understands.
Ghana would have been much better today if not what so called Nkrumah did by spending all our money on other countries including Egypt where Samie's mother comes from.
Dayan 12 years ago

You politicians can sometimes be silly, instead of discussing issues that will move us forward and better the livelihood of the average Ghanaian, what has the founder or not the founder of modern day Ghana got to do with us ...
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You politicians can sometimes be silly, instead of discussing issues that will move us forward and better the livelihood of the average Ghanaian, what has the founder or not the founder of modern day Ghana got to do with us? Visionlless politicians, a day is coming when Ghana will be ruled by leaders void of politics. You are all selfish.

DONBOLI 12 years ago

Nkurumah was the the leading member in the CPP there were people working hard going to courts to get our independence while Nkurumah was taught in the west to manager a country. Nkurumah didnt fight for indepence he fought fo ...
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Nkurumah was the the leading member in the CPP there were people working hard going to courts to get our independence while Nkurumah was taught in the west to manager a country. Nkurumah didnt fight for indepence he fought for the CPP against United Party.
The west model Nkurumah for Ghana and helped him to beat th UP. The UP members of paliament did vote for independence, they stayed away and only CPP members voted.
Nkurumah was a leader in ghanaians politics not the father of ghana independence.
Nkurumah join the CPP he didnt form it.
People forget ghana had paliament before independence. We had underground politics party who represent us in paliament as today.
Nkurumah wasnt in ghana, he was bought back to ghana by the british to join CPP and lead them.
The father of ghana is the students not Nkurumah. Its not important to anyone who the father of ghana independence is. Nkurumah is too young to be the father of ghana indenpendence, when people were fight in ghana he was a 19 years old boy sent to UK and America to learn. Ghana had well educated adults who were fighting at the courts for our independence, Nkurumah wasnt there. Samia should stop making commenting on things said about Nkurumah as the president, instead talk about how he build ghana in the short time he was in power.
KANO 12 years ago

THESE USELESS CORRUPT DUMB GHANAIAN "LEADERS" ARE JUST USING THE FOUNDING OF GHANA TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM THE MESS THEY'VE PLUNGED GHANA INTO.

THERE ARE MUCH MORE PRESSING ISSUES FOR GHANA'S LAZY FUCKING LEADERS TO WOR ...
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THESE USELESS CORRUPT DUMB GHANAIAN "LEADERS" ARE JUST USING THE FOUNDING OF GHANA TO DISTRACT ATTENTION FROM THE MESS THEY'VE PLUNGED GHANA INTO.

THERE ARE MUCH MORE PRESSING ISSUES FOR GHANA'S LAZY FUCKING LEADERS TO WORRY ABOUT, NOT WHO FOUNDED GHANA.

I DO NOT THINK GHANA LEADERS REALLY ARE SERIOUS HUMAN BEINGS.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

....because they thing it is their God given right to sell Ghana to anyone at any price and if they claim the founder-ship then, they can justify their actions.

Nkrumah's two kids are too naive.

Yes! we have lots of p ...
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....because they thing it is their God given right to sell Ghana to anyone at any price and if they claim the founder-ship then, they can justify their actions.

Nkrumah's two kids are too naive.

Yes! we have lots of problems, but this current NPP boys don't think, 'We'. It is all about them.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

correction.. because they think..

correction.. because they think..
Ato 12 years ago

When I read the contribution to this debate by Samia Nkrumah I was instantly deflated and gutted.

As the current Chairperson of the once great CPP and also the daughter of the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is this all that s ...
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When I read the contribution to this debate by Samia Nkrumah I was instantly deflated and gutted.

As the current Chairperson of the once great CPP and also the daughter of the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, is this all that she had to say in defense to this shameful attempt to discredit the Founder of the CPP, the Founder of modern Ghana, the first President of the Republic of Ghana, the creator of the African Union, the author and creator of the independence of Ghana, the master-mind behind the independence of most other African countries ............??????

It would have been wiser for Samia to have kept silent instead of exposing her crass and unpardonable naiveté. I am shocked to the marrow.

Also what are all those equally useless office-holders in the CPP doing about correcting the slight on the Greatest African that ever lived by the minions of imperialism?

If they are not smart or organized enough to win any aspect of elections, are they at least not capable of defending their honor when it is being bashed by all sorts of non-descript simpletons and ignorant nonentities? Shame on the CPP and shame on Samia for not being able to stand up for Kwame Nkrumah when it matters most.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Ato.. don't worry just like Kwaku Baako, they will so find out they are in the wrong bed.
I am not an NDC member,just a patriotic Ghanaian, yet I know the biggest threat to the the Great CPP is NPP and they don't see it.
G ...
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Ato.. don't worry just like Kwaku Baako, they will so find out they are in the wrong bed.
I am not an NDC member,just a patriotic Ghanaian, yet I know the biggest threat to the the Great CPP is NPP and they don't see it.
Go into our colonial history and you will understand why. Some people sold their birth right for meaningless wealth from the British and Nkrumah came to destroy that and so they have never forgiven him since.
Imagine a class society in Ghana.

In fact, Nkrumah saved us from two evils, the colonialists and an elitist group who were bond on keeping Ghana in one form of slavery or another.

They hijacked, Nationalism from the Fantes(by the way I am Ashanti but give credit to whom credit deserves)
Casley- Hayford, Mensah- sarbah etc.
Abban 12 years ago

Hey coward you can never be ashanti, kwasiato

Hey coward you can never be ashanti, kwasiato
KWASI KYEI BAFFOUR 12 years ago

KWAME NKRUMAH AND THE FOUNDERS OF UGCC ARE ALL GHANAIANS AND ALL OF THEM DESERVE CREDIT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY.I AGREE WITH THE DAUGHTER OF NKRUMAH THAT WE MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND NOT THE PAST.NKRUMAH WAS A G ...
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KWAME NKRUMAH AND THE FOUNDERS OF UGCC ARE ALL GHANAIANS AND ALL OF THEM DESERVE CREDIT FOR THE INDEPENDENCE OF THE COUNTRY.I AGREE WITH THE DAUGHTER OF NKRUMAH THAT WE MUST LOOK TO THE FUTURE AND NOT THE PAST.NKRUMAH WAS A GOOD LEADER BUT IN EVERY PAST GOVERNMENT,YOU FIND POLITICAL ACCROBATS WHO JOIN THE GOVERNMENT JUST TO ENRICH THEMSELVES AND THEIR IMMEDIATE FAMILY MEMBERS.
Nyansasem 12 years ago

Braveboy, my friend, you are being economical with the truth. As long as they see it proper and fitting to celebrate this stupid "founder's" and not "founders" day, this debate will rage on.

Atta Mills, the man who has in ...
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Braveboy, my friend, you are being economical with the truth. As long as they see it proper and fitting to celebrate this stupid "founder's" and not "founders" day, this debate will rage on.

Atta Mills, the man who has inflicted Ghana with divisiveness, insults and stupidity was disingenuous to create this founder's day. How could he forget those Sgt, Adjetey and 2 other soldiers who started this in 1948?

But then also, I see no reason why the NPP want to credit to JB Danquah. Neither Nkrumah nor Nkrumah founded Ghana. Our country was founded by the whitemen and was given to the heartless educate elites at that time for them to change its name.

That is the truth we need to tell the children.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Nyansasem... we need to give credit to him credit is due. I like the fact you mentioned Sgt. Adjetey and Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey.

If we just followed the national anthem, we will not have these proble ...
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Nyansasem... we need to give credit to him credit is due. I like the fact you mentioned Sgt. Adjetey and Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey.

If we just followed the national anthem, we will not have these problems. This is our land, won with the blood of our fathers.

Read my earlier comment and you notice I mentioned two good men of Ghana Casley-Hayford and Mensah-Sarbah.

There's a big difference between a Founder and Nationalist fathers and if you followed my trend yesterday, you will realize even Nkrumah had a place for J B Duaquah. For NPP to ignore the historical facts and try as usual to claim the moral ground of the formation of Ghana is dishonest.

I can write a whole essay on this topic and not come to their conclusion.

The Berlin conference of 1884 scrambled and partitioned Africa among the Europeans. The British claim the Fante chiefs handed over their independence in the Bond of 1844 is a big lie. Ask me why or I know you are clever so tell me.

The Aborigines rights Protection Society was formed in 1897 by the sons of the Fante's chiefs. Link the times together and the purpose and you will understand why Casley-hayford and his compatriots started the fight to reclaim our lands from the British(check the Crown lands Bill 1896).

Nkrumah is the founder because he not only fought for the Gold Coast, but the addition of the Northern Territories, and importantly and not without trouble, the Tran-Volta Togo land.

There's a big difference between a Nationalist fathers and the Founder and between them the soldiers and many Ghanaians who contributed in no mean fate.

To be frank with you, I didn't think this will come up again and instead of looking forward and show the future generation what we have to add, some have resorted to re-writing history and I don't like that.

They should have understood by now why Nkrumah, after going through a hell lot of racism in the USA wanted freedom not only for Ghana but the whole of Africa. He is adored in many countries across Africa and how can we destroy that and call him an opportunist.

Opportunism to them, to me a selfless determination. We credit Lenin as the founder of communist Russia although he was not the only one just the leader. If you argue we keep the big six, then you have to criticize the NPP for breaking from the norm.

When Nkrumah wanted to build the Akomombo Dam, instead of challenging him to do better, they rather campaigned against the project and said we did not need it. See what is happening today.

Nyansasem 12 years ago

I want you to understand that, civilized people who care about their country and history make sure, truth is told to their children by correcting mistakes made by dictators who wanted to glorify themselves.

Hell no, Lenin ...
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I want you to understand that, civilized people who care about their country and history make sure, truth is told to their children by correcting mistakes made by dictators who wanted to glorify themselves.

Hell no, Lenin alone would not be credited by any educated Russian as the sole founder of their country. What about Peter the Great, the man they love to worship too? Nigerians have made it a point to change their history on Wikipedia by giving about 10 people who they think are their founding members...even including Murtala Mohammed.

May be you did not know that founder's day was established by Nkrumah in the 60s and was abolished by the NLC. This is the reason why i said, Mills, arguably the most useless President ever we had seen, with his divisiveness brought brought this back.

Can you tell me why as a poor country, we have all these stupid days- founder's, independence and republic and Africa. Why all these to celebrate the abject poverty in the midst of abundance. How independent are we to celebrate all these days?
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Atta made Nkrumah's birthday a holiday on his 100th birthday. I doubt this will last forever, but to call Nkrumah opportunist and not the founder is equally insulting.
He did that because of the euphoria at the time.

If ...
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Atta made Nkrumah's birthday a holiday on his 100th birthday. I doubt this will last forever, but to call Nkrumah opportunist and not the founder is equally insulting.
He did that because of the euphoria at the time.

If you said, Nkrumah gave Ghana founders day, then it proves he did not take all the credit and at least respect the man for that.

I have always excused Nkrumah for being a dictator at the time. Every country decides how they run their country during difficult times.
Ghana still had weak systems at the time and with all the treachery from inside and threat from outside, he had to do what he did.
Nyansasem 12 years ago

www.stamps-for-sale.com/ghana-1960-founders-day-sg-254-fine-mint-17118-p.asp

Click on the link and look at the stamp. Check it for yourself and see how that megalomaniac was. That was 1960. Celebrating FOUNDER'S DAY on his ...
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www.stamps-for-sale.com/ghana-1960-founders-day-sg-254-fine-mint-17118-p.asp

Click on the link and look at the stamp. Check it for yourself and see how that megalomaniac was. That was 1960. Celebrating FOUNDER'S DAY on his date of birth. It was because he started calling him the life President of Ghana.

Look, I am young and did not see Nkrumah, but I have an opened mind to educate myself. No one is denying the fact that, Nkrumah has been our greatest and wisest president. No one is denying the fact that he is more popular than anyone of our president and other African presidents. But when it comes to history, we need to put away our political glasses to enable us to see well for our education.

Abraham Lincoln and may be JFK were not among the founding fathers of America. Yet, they are more popular than the founding fathers. But when it comes to the 7 founding fathers, no America will forget those 3 who did not become Presidents; Ben Franklin, John Jay and Alex Hamilton. Do you see why I keep on talking about the backwardness and PHDism in the educated African.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Again, the number of holidays is not the problem, it is how judicious we work and how organised we are. Most Ghanaians don't do the full week anyway and if the USA was as constantly hot like Ghana, believe me, they would have ...
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Again, the number of holidays is not the problem, it is how judicious we work and how organised we are. Most Ghanaians don't do the full week anyway and if the USA was as constantly hot like Ghana, believe me, they would have more days off. Again, ones we are able to feed ourselves, we are not in a haste to no where. Life will not end tomorrow like we have been brought up to think. We make haste slowly.
Nyansasem 12 years ago

You know the attitude of your Ghanaian worker and you are saying that it is not a problem. If it only depends on how judicious we work, then why not let us stay home for 3 or 6 months.

You are giving excuses for our lazine ...
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You know the attitude of your Ghanaian worker and you are saying that it is not a problem. If it only depends on how judicious we work, then why not let us stay home for 3 or 6 months.

You are giving excuses for our laziness and lackadaisical way of doing things. We are not the only ones lying along the equator or say, in the tropical region. I have been to Central and Caribbeans and yet, unlike us, those who have jobs in the government dept work like crazy because they could be fired and will never get any job.

With the excuses you are giving, and that mentality among Ghanaian workers, I don't thing we will even learn how to make a toothpick before the end of the world.

And please, don't break my heart this evening by saying that we have more time, so let us continue to drink, get married and be merry while our leaders are selling everything to highest bidder and Chinese taking over our country. My frail heart is ready for that, please, old chap.
Paa Kodwo 12 years ago

MADAM SAMIAH.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE BRAINWASHED BY THEIR DEAD FAMILIES AND RELATIVES WHEN THEY WERE SCHOOL BOYS IN THE TIME OF OSAGYEFO'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE OF GHANB.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN BE ...
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MADAM SAMIAH.

WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM THESE PEOPLE WHO WERE BRAINWASHED BY THEIR DEAD FAMILIES AND RELATIVES WHEN THEY WERE SCHOOL BOYS IN THE TIME OF OSAGYEFO'S STRUGGLE FOR INDEPENDENCE OF GHANB.

IT COULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR THEM ON THAT DAY TO HAVE TOUCHED ON TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATIION THAT WILL HELP TO TRANSFORM THE NATION TO PROSPERITY, UNFORTUNATELY, THEY THOUGHT, THAT WAS THE EASIERST WAY TO CONTINUE TO EARN THEIR CHEAP BREAD IN THE COUNTRY.

HOW DID THIS MAN BECOME HIS SO CALLED ''PROFESSOR'' TITLE IN THE MIDST OF UNDERDEVELOPMENT AND EXTREME POVERTY IN THE COUNTRY.

HE NEEDS TO LOOK AROUND HIS NEIGHBOURHOOD AND TO SEE THE BROKEN STRUCTURE THAT ARE STILL IN SHAMBLES AND TO QUESTION HIMSELF IF, HIS SO CALLED PROFESSOR TITLE FITS TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAT HE LIVES IN.

IT IS TIME FOR HIS FAKE ''PROFESSOR'' TITLE IS STRIFED OF THIS TITLE.

HE WAS APROFESSOR FOR NOTHING.HE ONLY PREACHED THEORIES TO HIS STUDENTS, HENCE, OUR CONTINUED BACKWRDNESS UNDERDEVELOPMENT

DOES HE KNOW WHAT POLITICAL SCIENCE MEANS TO A NATION.

IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THAT, HE IS NOW A MAN OF GOD.

HE IS A DISGRACE TO THE NATION.
Paa Kodwo 12 years ago

THIS SEMILITERATE PROFESSOR HAS DISQUALIFIED HIMSELF FROM GHANA'S POLITICAL HISTORY.

TIME TO STRIVE HIM FRO HIS ''PROFESSOR'' TITLE

THIS SEMILITERATE PROFESSOR HAS DISQUALIFIED HIMSELF FROM GHANA'S POLITICAL HISTORY.

TIME TO STRIVE HIM FRO HIS ''PROFESSOR'' TITLE
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Paa.. we were all brainwashed but we found the truth and refused to hold on to the lies. I hope a lot of people do as well in Ghana

Paa.. we were all brainwashed but we found the truth and refused to hold on to the lies. I hope a lot of people do as well in Ghana
apapa 12 years ago

who doesnt no this u p mastimeho people that they have a new name(npp)no parking party,so so thiefs,dont worry samia,their time is on the way coming so dont worry.

who doesnt no this u p mastimeho people that they have a new name(npp)no parking party,so so thiefs,dont worry samia,their time is on the way coming so dont worry.
Truth 12 years ago

Dr. Nkrumah was the smartest of all those founding members that was why he was included in the fight for independence. None of those guys was competent enough to lead. The Ashanti/Akyem members were cowards and scared of the ...
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Dr. Nkrumah was the smartest of all those founding members that was why he was included in the fight for independence. None of those guys was competent enough to lead. The Ashanti/Akyem members were cowards and scared of the British so Dr. Nkrumah seized the opportunity and led them on. Now that the good deed was done, UP, UGCC, NPP and the stooges want to claim credit. Big SHAME on them, Sore losers.
TWEEEAAA 12 years ago

please Prof Historian Ocquaye tell us weren't the idea of independence started before the birth of both danquah and Dr. Nkrumah. He is a historian and must be able to tell us if he really did research. How many publications h ...
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please Prof Historian Ocquaye tell us weren't the idea of independence started before the birth of both danquah and Dr. Nkrumah. He is a historian and must be able to tell us if he really did research. How many publications has this Prof at all.
Soomui 12 years ago

As for this Oquaye he needs to be reduced to his proper size to prove that whatever university that conferred that title on him is a useless institution.

As for this Oquaye he needs to be reduced to his proper size to prove that whatever university that conferred that title on him is a useless institution.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

I pity his students and thank God I never had to study under him.

I pity his students and thank God I never had to study under him.
NEMESIS, UK 12 years ago

Hey BRAVEBOY, I can now see that you are that BRAVE, by publicly admitting that most thing about Ghanaians are FAKE, including some of your so-called professors. Need I say more? I rest my case.

Hey BRAVEBOY, I can now see that you are that BRAVE, by publicly admitting that most thing about Ghanaians are FAKE, including some of your so-called professors. Need I say more? I rest my case.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

Yes! some of our people have been traitors from the start and unlike a typical Nigerian, we expose our flaws and that is what makes us great and Ghanaian.
I bet you don't understand the wisdom in this. This is the reason wh ...
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Yes! some of our people have been traitors from the start and unlike a typical Nigerian, we expose our flaws and that is what makes us great and Ghanaian.
I bet you don't understand the wisdom in this. This is the reason why the Uk has built their economy with Nigerian oil and they pour a little AID on your poor souls every year.
NEMESIS, UK 12 years ago

We are in the same boat BRAVEBOY, a pot calling kettle black. What happen to all the Gold Coast gold and cocoa profits from Ghana? They all ended here in London UK's Bank of England vault. Hahahahahahahahaha.

We are in the same boat BRAVEBOY, a pot calling kettle black. What happen to all the Gold Coast gold and cocoa profits from Ghana? They all ended here in London UK's Bank of England vault. Hahahahahahahahaha.
BRAVEBOY 12 years ago

We stopped it for at least 30 years under Rawlings and I. K. Acheampong, but the traitors, they never give us space to breath when they are in power.
But for Nigeria, it is a straight affair. Nigeria's and Congo's wealth co ...
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We stopped it for at least 30 years under Rawlings and I. K. Acheampong, but the traitors, they never give us space to breath when they are in power.
But for Nigeria, it is a straight affair. Nigeria's and Congo's wealth could pay for the whole of Africa if your guys were clever.
Political Science Analyst 12 years ago

These terrorists UP/NPP pledged after they lost last election to make Ghana ungovernable, instead of making space for the development of our dear country.
This is all what they are still busy doing since Ghana was decl ...
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These terrorists UP/NPP pledged after they lost last election to make Ghana ungovernable, instead of making space for the development of our dear country.
This is all what they are still busy doing since Ghana was declared an independence African state.

My sister Samia, I'd advice you to stop using all these social media gadgets & all these online digital social networks too, but I'll first of all reach you on Facebook to explain to you directly why I'm asking you to STOP using them.

Call a truce a truce!!!!!
Ahmed 12 years ago

we want debate on the way forward to develop our nation, how to reduce poverty, how to make our cities clean of dirt and you name them

we want debate on the way forward to develop our nation, how to reduce poverty, how to make our cities clean of dirt and you name them
Ato 12 years ago

A man who does not know his past is doomed to take the mistakes of his past into his future.

If you want to develop your nation and have a clean environment, you must know what you did wrong in the past that continues to k ...
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A man who does not know his past is doomed to take the mistakes of his past into his future.

If you want to develop your nation and have a clean environment, you must know what you did wrong in the past that continues to keep you in poverty and squalor.

It is the past that shapes our present and it is the present on which we stand, that is the basis for all our future endeavors.

Every living human being is the sum total of all his past experiences. Whatever any such person wants to be or do in the future is determined by the evaluation of the good and the bad of those experiences.

Lets not run away from the responsibility of rectifying any aspect of our lives that are not correct at any time. It is said, 'He who runs away from battle lives to fight another day.'

In the case of this subject matter of the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, we cannot allow ourselves to be manipulated by the lies of those who have willfully condemned themselves to subjectively live and work their entire lives for imperialist interests, to distort our history and then to shape the substance of our psyche to also become full-fledged slaves again. It will not happen.
Nyansasem 12 years ago

And are you saying that, the past will tell us that Nkrumah founded Ghana? How disingenuous can you be?

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Braveboy, my friend, you are being economical with the truth. As long as they see it proper and fitting to ce ...
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And are you saying that, the past will tell us that Nkrumah founded Ghana? How disingenuous can you be?

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Braveboy, my friend, you are being economical with the truth. As long as they see it proper and fitting to celebrate this stupid "founder's" and not "founders" day, this debate will rage on.

Atta Mills, the man who has inflicted Ghana with divisiveness, insults and stupidity was disingenuous to create this founder's day. How could he forget those Sgt, Adjetey and 2 other soldiers who started this in 1948?

But then also, I see no reason why the NPP want to credit to JB Danquah. Neither Nkrumah nor Nkrumah founded Ghana. Our country was founded by the whitemen and was given to the heartless educate elites at that time for them to change its name.

That is the truth we need to tell the children.
Bunny Wailer 12 years ago

was he threaten with DNA test and deportation? I am surprised he has not weighed in.

was he threaten with DNA test and deportation? I am surprised he has not weighed in.
Chris Hani, ANC martyr 12 years ago

they are out of touch.......build a national party ...life is too short for third world bigots.....we do not need a Haiti in ghana

they are out of touch.......build a national party ...life is too short for third world bigots.....we do not need a Haiti in ghana
Nii Okai 12 years ago

Samia, your point here has dislodged the professor who unfortunately disgraced himself with all the arguments he came out with. Professor Ocquaye's political fallacies have placed him in a very tight corner, utimately lowerin ...
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Samia, your point here has dislodged the professor who unfortunately disgraced himself with all the arguments he came out with. Professor Ocquaye's political fallacies have placed him in a very tight corner, utimately lowering himself to the whole Ghanaians like a primary school pupil who failed his exams.

The 'so called professor' exhibited an inexperienced knowledge about Ghanaian history, and reduced himself to a very sad level in the area of politics and religion as I understood he is a reverend minister of the Bible, since this is not the time such comments of irrelevance be given attention like this.

Ataa Ocquaye, what is your problem? I feel sad for you and Ayikoi Otoo, because it seems you both have come out at the wrong time to say things of real minor importance. Are you trying to foolishly front for the NPP, the party that in honest are tribally one sided for some special reward or what?. In real fact, people who care and understand know that the strong base of the UP and PP of which came out the NPP is of, and no doubt it is of the Greater Accra, but today politicians from this region have been sidelined by the Ashantis in the NPP who see themselves as the owners of the party, so why are you fronting for this party foolishly instead of having sober reflection of the main problem of the outcome of the petition.

Do you think even if you are qualified for a presidential leadership, these onesided tribal bigots will accept you? Please stop this primitive move and sit somewhere and rest, so that you say right things at the right time.
KOMOO FRANCE. 12 years ago

Samia, find a solution for Egypt,that is where you belong.

Samia, find a solution for Egypt,that is where you belong.
Kabone 12 years ago

Samia, don't waste your energy defending Nkrumah,your father. Do you know he never wanted to see our Mom, Fathia when he was in exile in Guinea? Even though Seuko Tourre , his best partner in crime pressured him to ? The reas ...
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Samia, don't waste your energy defending Nkrumah,your father. Do you know he never wanted to see our Mom, Fathia when he was in exile in Guinea? Even though Seuko Tourre , his best partner in crime pressured him to ? The reason being that he married your mom for political reasons so as to have the backing of the Egyptian Goernment (then super power in Africa at that time) in his selfish ambition to unite Africa and become the head. So now that he was overthrown there was no need to see her anymore . Ask and enquire seek and search ; our Father was not the man you think he was.
KWASI KYEI BAFFOUR 12 years ago

EVERY EDUCATED GHANAIAN KNOWS THE WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT WERE BEHIND THE COUP THAT OUSTED NKRUMAH FROM POWER.IT IS WRONG TO SAY THAT NKRUMAH DID NOT WANT TO SEE HIS WIFE AFTER HIS OVERTHROW FROM POWER.NKRUMAH MADE SOME MISTAK ...
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EVERY EDUCATED GHANAIAN KNOWS THE WESTERN COUNTRIES THAT WERE BEHIND THE COUP THAT OUSTED NKRUMAH FROM POWER.IT IS WRONG TO SAY THAT NKRUMAH DID NOT WANT TO SEE HIS WIFE AFTER HIS OVERTHROW FROM POWER.NKRUMAH MADE SOME MISTAKES AS A HUMAN BEING BUT IT WAS MOST OF HIS SELFISH MINISTERS WHO DID THE MOST DAMAGE. THAT HAS HAPPENED IN EVERY GOVERNMENT THE COUNTRY HAS HAD.
Agya yaw 12 years ago

Samia shutup what do u know about Ghana think about ur party and unite with ur own brothers and stop disturbing us we peace and unity in the country u can evev unite ur own party as chairperson shame unto u

Samia shutup what do u know about Ghana think about ur party and unite with ur own brothers and stop disturbing us we peace and unity in the country u can evev unite ur own party as chairperson shame unto u
osei yaw - london 12 years ago

That Kwame Nkrumah found Ghana is not in dispute

- univerally known throughout the world that Kwame Nkrumah found Ghana; to argue otherwise is sheer bufoonery

- why does Samia get into arguments with those dimwits who w ...
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That Kwame Nkrumah found Ghana is not in dispute

- univerally known throughout the world that Kwame Nkrumah found Ghana; to argue otherwise is sheer bufoonery

- why does Samia get into arguments with those dimwits who wouldn't give up believing that planet Earth is flat

- could this Mike Ocquaye tell us his learning backgroud?

Osei Wusu-Khanin / osei yaw - london
Oheneba 12 years ago

In the article, “External co-optation of a less developed country’s policy making: The case of Ghana, 1969-1972,” the author advances the thesis that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and creditor countri ...
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In the article, “External co-optation of a less developed country’s policy making: The case of Ghana, 1969-1972,” the author advances the thesis that the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and creditor countries structured the context in which their client, Ghana—a less developed country—formulated its economic policy between 1969 and 1972. The intergovernmental organizations and creditor countries failed to take Ghana's domestic political situation into account, however. When the country became heavily dependent upon the IGO's and creditors for financial assistance to enable the government to survive a disastrous shortfall in foreign exchange earnings, it was forced to accept extreme and politically dangerous measures in order to secure assistance. The policies that were adopted were catastrophic, and destroyed what remained of the democratic government's public support. This dramatic change in public climate made the government fatally vulnerable to a military coup d'etat in January 1972.

The following excerpts from "External Co-optation of a Less Developed Country's Policy Making: The Case of Ghana, 1969-1972" by Ronald T. Libby in World Politics, Vol. 29, No. 1. (Oct., 1976), pp. 67-89.

Despite personality differences, the members of the group were united in their opposition to the government's economic policies which until August 1971 had been the exclusive preserve of the Minister of Finance, J. H. Mensah. They consciously orchestrated their efforts with the IGO's to influence the Prime Minister.

Initially, they sought to ally themselves with the IBRD, and later with the IMF, in an effort to defeat Mensah's economic policy.

Jones Ofori-Atta explained this informal alliance with the Bank:
All donors looked at the Bank's reports as "the" data. Those who wanted to persuade J. H. to adopt a policy, posed the policy in Bank terms. We had to form an alliance with the Bank to get Busia's approval. Busia took his cue from the IBRD/IMF dislike of J. H. It became evident to Busia as early as March 1971 that something would have to be done about J. H. . . . I requested an IBRD Resident Representative to get more firm commitments from them and to get projects through more quickly and get support in the fight against J. H.;
Mc-Namara liked the idea.'

The official reported that, with the support of the World Bank, they "broke J. H.'s back." At meetings which were chaired by the Prime Minister, Mensah could not casually explain away or blithely justify his policies; he had to give systematic evidence with data to compete with the opposing evidence which was being produced by the coalition. From approximately August 1971 until December 1971, an intense contest for control of Ghana's economic policy took place between the coalition of the DAS and the Bank of Ghana, backed by the IGO's on one side and the Minister of Finance, J. H. Mensah, on the other.

The lines of demarcation between the two sides surfaced in late January 1971 on the occasion of the Prime Minister's announcement of a major Cabinet reshuffle. There were ten major Cabinet changes; three ministers were removed. The most significant change was that of the division of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning into two ministries. The Prime Minister himself took control of the planning portfolio, leaving Mensah with only the Ministry of Finance, thus reducing Mensah's virtual monopoly over economic policy. It was a public humiliation of Mensah and an effort to undercut his control. Busia took this extreme action at the urging of Ghana's donor and creditor countries and the IGO's. An official who was working in the Office of the Prime Minister at the time explained the circumstances leading to Busia's action: "J. H. was not briefing the Cabinet on the economic situation. He also went to creditor country meetings and the meetings broke down. Nothing happened. Aid flow stopped. A debt settlement had to come before aid would come. He would not brief the P. M. People who came to see him were not received well. There would not be aid without a debt settlement and a plan. The Bank and Fund and embassies complained about this.

What was at stake in the Prime Minister's decision to reduce Mensah's authority was ability of the creditor countries and IGO's to influence Ghana's economic policy. The removal of the Ministry of Economic Planning from Mensah's control was a prelude to the emergence of the informal alliance between the internal coalition, the IGO's, and the creditor countries. A high-level administrator for the U.S. Agency for International Development who participated in Ghana's 1970 aid meetings described the nature of this alliance as follows:

"Creditors used Bank/Fund documents as the framework of correct policies for Ghana. They were the principal economic consultants and arbiters in the process. The Ghanaians had the Harvard group, and the creditors used the Bank and Fund as go-betweens with the Ghana Government."'

The IGO's coordinated all action by imposing the requirement of a development program and policies as a sine qua non for aid from donor countries. The Bank, for example, would not recommend an aid program for Ghana until the government had produced a plan and a set of policies that were acceptable to it. Mensah had resisted this pressure by arguing that the development ministries were not themselves able to design a sufficient number of sound development projects, and that a development program comprised only of projects would not be adequate for Ghana's needs. He had also taken the position that unless the ministries knew the size of the aid commitments, they could not formulate a suitable development program. The pressure to produce a plan and to adopt policies which were acceptable to the IBRD prompted the Prime Minister to remove the Ministry of Economic Planning from Mensah's control. By restructuring Ghana's economic policy-making apparatus, Busia created a direct policy-formulating link with the IGO's and creditors.

In February of 1971, shortly after taking personal control of the planning ministry, Busia created a special Cabinet-level Standing Development Committee (SDC) as the government's principal decision making body for economic policy. The committee was chaired by the Prime Minister himself, and included Mensah and Frimpong-Ansah. These two men were the principal antagonists and, in the beginning, tended to dominate the meetings. The Economic Advisory Committee and the Economic Review Committee were under the SDC in terms of policy-making authority; their members were more technically oriented. The function of the latter two committees was to advise the Cabinet on short-term economic events. The heart of their work was the transmission of economic reports on the state of the economy to the SDC. These reports were produced under the supervision of Killick, a member of the DAS team, and were instrumental in undermining Mensah's authority in Busia's eyes.
Edwin 12 years ago

And this old man could lie through his teeth because he has the blood of an elephant running through hie veins. Has he forgotten that most Ghanaians who were in the defunct young pioneer movement are still around? He should c ...
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And this old man could lie through his teeth because he has the blood of an elephant running through hie veins. Has he forgotten that most Ghanaians who were in the defunct young pioneer movement are still around? He should check around and see he will find all the country today. Late prof attach mills was once a young pioneer. Next time he should think twice before he tries to lie again . Is he no more a baptist church pastor? Why is he trying to deceive the youth of today by turning Ghana's history upside down because of Npp politics? He should know that most of the young pioneer movement members around as such they will not sit down for such lies to told to our youth. The up/npp tradition is a demonic,evil and bloody organisation. Their presence in Ghana only brought pains to mother Ghana.
osei yaw - london 12 years ago

Thanks to you; from all, Edwin

Thanks to you; from all, Edwin
Kwasi Nsiah 12 years ago

The debate can not be ended for as long as the Nkrumaists remain stubborn in defending a situation that is blatantly wrong. JB Danquah , the Doyen of Ghana Politics gave this country its modern name of Ghana. Even Nkrumah cou ...
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The debate can not be ended for as long as the Nkrumaists remain stubborn in defending a situation that is blatantly wrong. JB Danquah , the Doyen of Ghana Politics gave this country its modern name of Ghana. Even Nkrumah could not deny him that honour. He adopted the name Ghana when he became the first Prime Minister of when we attained our independence. As long as the adherents of Nkrumah;s ideology insist on distorting our history. the disagreement will rage on despite the likes of Samia Nkrumah.
Ojomo 12 years ago

Ghananians are so stupid. You discuss what will not benefit your country but stupid things. Nigeria will continue to lead you in everything. Foolish people

Ghananians are so stupid. You discuss what will not benefit your country but stupid things. Nigeria will continue to lead you in everything. Foolish people
Akadu Mensema 12 years ago

Oh! Samia!

Oh! Samia!
boobuoo 12 years ago

Someone must stop Ocquaye before he forments trouble in the country because of his divisive tactics,this trend is not supposed to come from an elderly statesman like Mike Ocquaye,please,some wise men from Ghana must take the ...
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Someone must stop Ocquaye before he forments trouble in the country because of his divisive tactics,this trend is not supposed to come from an elderly statesman like Mike Ocquaye,please,some wise men from Ghana must take the initiative to halt his evil intentions.
Villars 12 years ago

I could not agree with you more. What's wrong with us - the young are miseducated and propaganda-fed while the old are so clouded by senility, they are clueless as to the damage they are wreaking on us...JEAMills didn't thin ...
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I could not agree with you more. What's wrong with us - the young are miseducated and propaganda-fed while the old are so clouded by senility, they are clueless as to the damage they are wreaking on us...JEAMills didn't think thro this Founders day nonsense when we already had Independence Day.....and then this Mike Ocquaye, what did he do for Ghana when he was a Minister. What at all is all this junk, when you got a mountain of problems to tackle.
Abdullai Kenkeni 12 years ago

my goodness, why should these political liars ever stop disturbing us? Who says Danquah wanted independence for Ghana? These people never wanted independence but to just replace the whites, but a type of system the french put ...
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my goodness, why should these political liars ever stop disturbing us? Who says Danquah wanted independence for Ghana? These people never wanted independence but to just replace the whites, but a type of system the french put in their colonies.
Tindana 12 years ago

Samia, don't mind them npp never say the truth thy always Lie to GHANIANS

Samia, don't mind them npp never say the truth thy always Lie to GHANIANS
Benny 12 years ago

Samia. You dont know anything. Your dear father never foundered Ghana as you know. Kwame Nkrumah becane the leader and as a prefect he helped to stear the wheel towards freeing ourdelves from the wings of the British. Good.Gh ...
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Samia. You dont know anything. Your dear father never foundered Ghana as you know. Kwame Nkrumah becane the leader and as a prefect he helped to stear the wheel towards freeing ourdelves from the wings of the British. Good.Ghana was Gold Coast and the name was changed to Ghana. Good.Cecil Rhodes never found Rhodesia. He travelled there and then forced those then illiterate to name the place after him by killing every ethnic personality that comes his way. Do you think Rhodesia never had bravemen at the time , They fought the Boer war by commanding pigs to fight the British during that era.Ghana was there before Kwame Nkrumah father and mother Nyaniba migrated from Sierraleone and Liberia to reside at Nzimaland. Ghanaians are kind and to your family to give a platform to you and your brother. So keep quiet and continue with the politicsl aspect.
Paul Amuna 12 years ago

Samia Nkrumah should be smart enough to know that there are many more versed in the facts of history to fight the fight. She should not have got involved in my opinion.

Samia Nkrumah should be smart enough to know that there are many more versed in the facts of history to fight the fight. She should not have got involved in my opinion.
TA USA 12 years ago

Samia you are right but one thing you should know is that your brother has betrayed your father's legacy with his running mouth. You see, those who don't know Dr Nkrumah will believe that idiot called Professor Oquaye based o ...
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Samia you are right but one thing you should know is that your brother has betrayed your father's legacy with his running mouth. You see, those who don't know Dr Nkrumah will believe that idiot called Professor Oquaye based on your useless and goathead brother Sekou's witchcraft behavior. As for Professor Oquaye,I pity the student he taught political history when he doesn't even know that the unborn babies even know Nkrumah founded Modern Ghana through " INDEPENDENCE NOW " when Dankwah/Busia wanted Gold Coast's Independence Gradually. Samia what I expect you do is carry your brother Sekou to your hometown shrine and sacrifice him to the Kankanyame Demi-god so that you would be able to marry, because Sekou's bad spirit is hindering your marriage. Since Sekou has been has dabbling in Ghana's politics he has brought ill luck; we need to sacrifice him so Nkrumah's spirit will smile on Ghana once more. Samia your late father is not happy Sekou is bearing his name and disgracing the credibility your father built. Cruxify that idiot.
Kwaku Addo 12 years ago

He/who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.Sami are you acpting the fact that your opportunist father was not the actual person who founded Ghana our beloved country but rather he completed the good work of the U ...
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He/who fights and runs away lives to fight another day.Sami are you acpting the fact that your opportunist father was not the actual person who founded Ghana our beloved country but rather he completed the good work of the UGCC who have already prepared the agenda to change then Gold Coast to Ghana when independence is won.Facts are facts so don't come back again to argue bluntly.
CY 12 years ago

Wise one

Wise one
ONIPANUA 12 years ago

According to history, left to the rest of the big six(Danquah and the rest indipendence for our coutly would havebeen later than 1957 but Nkrumah insited of independence NOW, as the the general secretery of UGCC.so he was the ...
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According to history, left to the rest of the big six(Danquah and the rest indipendence for our coutly would havebeen later than 1957 but Nkrumah insited of independence NOW, as the the general secretery of UGCC.so he was the main instrument for our independence from the british
Paa Kodwo 12 years ago

MADAM SAMIAH.

IS NPP THE PARTY YOUR BROTHER SEKOU SYMPATHISED WITH, BECAUSE HE WAS AT LOGERHEADS WITH THE NDC.

JUST IMAGINE WHAT THESE CRIMINALS ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT YOUR FATHER AFTER PASSING AWAY FORTY ONE(41) YEAR ...
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MADAM SAMIAH.

IS NPP THE PARTY YOUR BROTHER SEKOU SYMPATHISED WITH, BECAUSE HE WAS AT LOGERHEADS WITH THE NDC.

JUST IMAGINE WHAT THESE CRIMINALS ARE STILL THINKING ABOUT YOUR FATHER AFTER PASSING AWAY FORTY ONE(41) YEARS,

WITHOUT OSAGYEFO DR kWAME
NKRUMAH'S EDUCATIONAL POLICIES INITIATED IMMEDIATLY AFTER INDEPENDENCE AYIKOO OTOO AND THE SO CALLED ''PROFESSOR'' OCQUAYE WOULD HAVE BEen FARM LABOURERS IN GHANA.

GRATITUDE BEING PAID WITH UNGRATITITUDE.

THEY ARE SHAME TO THEMSELVES and thrir present family AND THE POLITICAL HISTORY OF GHANA WILL JUDGE AND HUNT THEM TO DEATH.
NII LARTEY NARTEY 12 years ago

Ghana definitely can not historically be said was founded by one single person. Not to say that we can not also give recognition to appreciate some outstandingly articulate individual efforts.

We must think and thank other ...
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Ghana definitely can not historically be said was founded by one single person. Not to say that we can not also give recognition to appreciate some outstandingly articulate individual efforts.

We must think and thank others like the Paa Grants, Nananoms, Nenes, the Yaa Naas like Nanaheemah Yaa Asantewahs, Sir Nana Osei Agyeman Prempeh and his brave Ashante followers who suffered long exile because of his leading resistance to colonial rule, Sgt Agyeitey, Cpl. Attipoe, and their ex-service colleagues, Paa Willies, S.B Dombos, J.B Danquah included, Obetsebi Lamteys, our brave civil servants, strong farmers cooperative front, the Fante confederation, market women, teachers, artisans, Black Star footballers whose contribution made our name a world known, Our Ghana Airways that flew our flag, the Black Star lines ship that sail from coast to coast and all whose diverse contributions that made us whom we are today be given recognition and appreciated by all.

At the end of the day, what do we have to show as a 56 year old independent country when we still sleep under darkness, no vocation training for our children, without affordable education for all, no available jobs for our graduates, no good roads, no affordable hospitals, poor stinky sanitation, no drinking water, no provision of basic human needs with untold social economic hardships that makes people honestly think that the independence was even useless as it came to help only some unscrupulous criminally corrupt greedy bastards forcing our people especially our youth to travel abroad willingly to enslave themselves in a deplorable state in other countries the world over.

It's about time we stop all these founding nonsense and come together as people to safe our fallen country as the shameful social economic mess we find ourselves today is certainly not the dream of our founders who laid down their lives for our freedom.
Paa Kodwo 12 years ago

I AM PARTLY WITH YOUR COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS, BUT WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION THAT, PRODUCING JUST GRADUAZES TO THE LABOUR MARKET AND FORVTHE GOVERNMENT TO CATER FOR THEM FOR NON-PRODUCTIVE WORK CANNOT BE THE ANSWERS TO THE E ...
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I AM PARTLY WITH YOUR COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS, BUT WISH TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION THAT, PRODUCING JUST GRADUAZES TO THE LABOUR MARKET AND FORVTHE GOVERNMENT TO CATER FOR THEM FOR NON-PRODUCTIVE WORK CANNOT BE THE ANSWERS TO THE ECONOMIC CHALLENGES AND DIFFICUTIES FACING THE COUNTRY.

WHY SHOULD THE NATION PRODUCE ENGINEERING GRADUATES TO BE A BURDEN ON THE GOVERNMENT.

WHY ARE GHANAIAN GRADUATES NOT IN POSITION TO BE INNOVATIVE AND TO BE SUPPRTED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO ESTABLISH THEIR OWN DYNAMIC CONPONENT INDUSTRIES TO STIMULATE ECONOMC GROWTH, CREATE JOBS, GENERATE INCOME,CONSUMER SPENDING, BETTER STANDARDS OF LIVING AND TO ALLEVIATE EXTREME POVERTY.

THE GOVERNMENT IS NOT A CAR MANUFACTURING COMPANY OR AN INSURANCE CO-OPERATION TO CATER FOR ALL IN THE COUNTRY.

IT IS AT THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT A TRUE MARKET SYSTEM WORKS.

ARE YOU THERE WITH ME.
Cash 12 years ago

I strongly agree with you.

I strongly agree with you.
Fo Kofi 12 years ago

WELL SAID

WELL SAID
ap-etor 12 years ago

npp does not see any gud thing about any individual or group unless u are from their party.what kind of people are these.

npp does not see any gud thing about any individual or group unless u are from their party.what kind of people are these.
Oscuro 12 years ago

BRAVO!, Samia. This is a true Ghanaian.

BRAVO!, Samia. This is a true Ghanaian.
danjumah 12 years ago

nkrumah was the best ever that ghana have

nkrumah was the best ever that ghana have
BBC NEWS!!!!!!!!!!!!! 12 years ago

The concern citizens of Ghanaians abroad such as America, Canada, London, Germany, Italy, Australia and Holland, is appealing to the highest court of our country to throw the petitioners foolish and diabolical case that is ha ...
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The concern citizens of Ghanaians abroad such as America, Canada, London, Germany, Italy, Australia and Holland, is appealing to the highest court of our country to throw the petitioners foolish and diabolical case that is hanging on mother Ghana's Neck through the nearest Windows for Ghana to move forward.
yuyuyuy 12 years ago

stop calling samia a prostitute. ask ur mom to show u ur dad

stop calling samia a prostitute. ask ur mom to show u ur dad
Yaw Adu-Asare 12 years ago

The time is up for CPP to introduce its economic program for debate.

The time is up for CPP to introduce its economic program for debate.
james naru 12 years ago

Nkrumahs daughter: Your views strike a big accord in my ears.
I will vote for you any day so long as you endeavour to address some of the basic issues facing Ghana after 50+ years of independence:
good drinking water
sanit ...
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Nkrumahs daughter: Your views strike a big accord in my ears.
I will vote for you any day so long as you endeavour to address some of the basic issues facing Ghana after 50+ years of independence:
good drinking water
sanitation
access to reliable medical services
good schools
ability to feed ourselves
NANA APINTOHENE 12 years ago

Where is CPP today?. CPP IS DEAD AND DEAD FOREVER.
CPP party sympathisers should give Ghana a break. The evil that men do lives after them. The state of the CPP party is a living testimony of the foundation on which it was b ...
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Where is CPP today?. CPP IS DEAD AND DEAD FOREVER.
CPP party sympathisers should give Ghana a break. The evil that men do lives after them. The state of the CPP party is a living testimony of the foundation on which it was built.NKRUMAH'S PARTY is deservedly limping into OBLIVION. DANQUAH'S PARTY is growing from strength to strength. This gives a glaring commentary of the tenacity and resilience of the DANQUAH BUSIA AND DOMBO (DBD) TRADITION. A tradition endowed with wisdom , excellent policy craftsmanship and superior statecraft qualities. DANDUAH is the doyen of Gold Coast and Ghana politics. It is a fact and no one can change it ever. Danquah, Paa Willie, Dombo, Edward Akuffo Addo, Busia, John Agyekum Kuffour and Nana Addo will always remain GREAT GHANAIAN POLITICIANS.
LONG LIVE NPP AND GOD BLESS GHANA.
Evangelist Yaw Forster-Pretoria S Afr 12 years ago

I could'nt agree with Samia more. Cant man learn that 'history' has never been progressive in terms of growth but a reminder and revisitation of pain, strife, 'rancour and bitterness, late Ignatious Kutu Acheampong. What bene ...
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I could'nt agree with Samia more. Cant man learn that 'history' has never been progressive in terms of growth but a reminder and revisitation of pain, strife, 'rancour and bitterness, late Ignatious Kutu Acheampong. What benefit is the debate on the founding of Ghana and who did and did not do what help mother Ghana at this day and age. Let us learn to turn our 'history into geography.' We need life in and for the future.
alfred 12 years ago

nkrumah broke away and finshed off a political process that had commenced before he came to ghana......samia fe get that man!!!!

nkrumah broke away and finshed off a political process that had commenced before he came to ghana......samia fe get that man!!!!

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Samia calls for truce on Ghana founding debate

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