Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has warned that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) should stop toying with Ghana’s history by changing dates of important statutory holidays.
His comment follows an amendment to the Public Holiday Act proposed by the Majority in Parliament to make January 7 and August 4, Constitution Day and Founders’ Day respectively.
January 7 as been earmarked as Constitution Day by the Akufo-Addo administration with this Bill to amend the Public Holidays Act 2001 (Act 601).
Also, the legislation will also designate August 4 as Founders’ Day.
NDC, known for its support for Nkrumaist ideals, deems this move as an attempt to distort Ghana’s history by enforcing the idea that Ghana had multiple founders.
Comparing the case to that of South Africa, Emmanuel Buah cited that although the country had many leaders who fought for the people’s freedom, Nelson Mandela’s statue stood tall amongst them because of the major role he played during the Apartheid.
He charged that the sweat and effort of Ghana’s first President Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah must not be thrown into the gutters because he has done a lot for Ghana most especially fighting for the independence of the country.
He added that although the efforts of past leaders, especially the Big Six, are appreciated, he “strongly believes that move was wrong because it (the Amendment) did not reach a consensus.”
“The NPP government amendment intends to basically scrap the Republic holiday, bring January 7 as constitution day, and then August 4 as founder’s Day and basically make Nkrumah’s 21st day as a foot note. And so who has the right and duty to make amendment to the course of history. Nkrumah stood for Ghana and stood for Africa. We have to be careful to make sure that we do not water down our history.
“When it came to the specific issue of 1957 and independence now, we all know who made the effort is Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and people they described as Varander boys. Ordinary people who are mainly represented today by the NDC and so when you are making a decision today to basically change the course of history and you are making that decision without their voice, it’s not right.”
The MP was quick to remind the NPP that the NDC will take over governance and reverse the decision maintaining that the majority of Ghanaians are on the NDC’s side when it comes to issues such as this.
“Ghanaians are very very emotional when it comes to our independence because when the time came, for ordinary Ghanaians to stand up to British imperialism, colonialism and they fought hard. The Majority are going have their way in changing the course of history but we are just reminding them that the time is short. The time will come when the NDC government will be in power and things that they have done that do have national consensus will be revisited.” He averred.
