Speaker of Parliament, Professor Aaron Mike Oquaye has sparked a new debate over who should be credited with the official declaration of Ghana’s independence.
The legislator who has over the years sought to give a narration contrary to what has been known by Ghanaians over the years said, the late Dr. Kwame did not declare Ghana’s independence has written in our history books.
He is therefore calling on schools to stop feeding school children with misinformation.
Speaking at the 40th anniversary lecture of Prof. Kofi Abrefa Busia, on Tuesday, August 28, 2018, at the Accra International Conference Centre, Prof Oquaye said the declaration by Dr Nkrumah was only a teaser at a Convention People’s Party’s rally, which preceded the actual declaration of independence later on March 6, 1957 in Parliament.
“That was a CPP rally and Nkrumah was entitled to let his supporters know that the struggle was in fact ended. Independence was declared hours later in Parliament,” he said.
According to the Speaker, Dr Busia, who became the second Prime Minister, was the man who supported the motion moved by Kwame Nkrumah for independence.
J.B “In this connection, let me say categorically that Nkrumah did not declare independence at the Old Polo Grounds. The motion for independence was supported by Busia and was carried and the Duchess of Kent declared Ghana independent at the National Assembly by the authority of Queen Elizabeth II,” he noted.
“No Ghanaian child should be taught that Nkrumah declared independence at the Old Polo Ground” he had been very instrumental to the struggle and attainment of Ghana’s independence, noting that “never in his life was he not supportive of Ghana’s independence”.
“I want to use this occasion to remind Ghanaians that when Nkrumah moved the motion of destiny in the National Assembly for independence, it was Busia who seconded it and it was unanimously carried.”
“His role in Parliament was a prophet. He was opposed to the anti-democratic methods adopted by Nkrumah and the CPP, and spoke up against them.”
