Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - The Ghana Actors Guild (GAD) on Tuesday re-enacted the release of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah from prison following his arrest on January 13, 1948 for calling for positive action against the then colonial government of the Gold Coast. The play, written, produced and directed by Efo Kojo Mawugbe, Artistic Director of the National Theatre, depicted events in the run-up to Ghana's independence that led to the arrest, trial and subsequent release of Dr. Nkrumah.
It was sponsored by the Ghana@50 Secretariat as part of the Ghana at 50 celebrations. It was set at the James Town Mantse Agbonaa, but the James Fort was also used as the prison where Nkrumah was held. The play, a masterpiece lasted for about an hour and really brought to life the struggle of the masses of Ghanaians at the time, that led to
Ghana's independence.
The production made use of real police vans, handcuffs, colonial police uniforms, real prisons officers and at least two hundred actors who played the masses that called for Nkrumah's release. On the day of his arrest, Osagyefo Nkrumah, played by famous Ghanaian actor, David Dontoh, flanked by Convention People's Party leaders addressed a rally and his message was clear, positive action and self-government now.
Just as he had gotten the crowd chanting "self government now!" colonial police pounced on him in the podium with an arrest warrant, handcuffed him and whisked him away amidst tears and screams of "no, no..." by the people.
He was put into a waiting police van and driven off as the people followed mourning and groaning for his immediate release. Later on, he was put before court. His case was number 0042/48, The Gold Coast Versus Francis Nwiah Kofi, alias Kwame Nkrumah and the offence was that contrary to the public order act 29 (18) 2b,c, d, e and f, he instigated the peace loving people of the Gold Coast into positive action that led to the destruction of public property.
Osagyefo Nkrumah pleaded not guilty but was held in police custody for another day. Apparently, before he was arrested, he had visited Mr. R. A. Saloway, Colonial Secretary to the Governor General Gerald Chrysie and told him that if their plea for a constitutional assembly to determine the division of the country into constituencies to prepare for subsequent elections were not heeded, he would lead the people into positive action. Saloway had promised to draw the attention of the governor and thereby called a meeting to discuss the matter on January 8, 1948, but he went back on his promise and two days before the meeting could come off, on January 6, 1948 the colonial government declared the positive action null and void.
Osagyefo therefore, held the rally on January 13, 1948 and asked all workers except the police, health workers and a few others to go on immediate strike.
He was clear in his message that positive action did not mean violence but rather the use of all legal means of political agitation to break down the systemic walls of imperialism.
Following his trial, he was held in custody for another day, but the colonial government did not see any reason for holding him any longer and released him on February 13, 1948 to a hero's welcome by cheering masses in white, who carried him shoulder high, poured white powder on him and sung songs of victory like "Nkrumah Show Boy, I want to see you, Kwame Nkrumah show boy".
Osagyefo Nkrumah used that opportune moment to hold a rally and promised the masses of his commitment to the fight for independence and self-government now. He made reference to the calls by the more conservative Ghanaian politicians for self-government in the shortest possible time and called it absolute nonsense.
In attendance was Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum, Minister of Public Sector Reform and a leading member of the CPP as well as some other leading members of the CPP.
Mr. Samuel Odoi, President of GAD told the GNA after the play that GAD would also re-enact the February 28, 1948 shooting incident on February 28, 2007 between the National Theatre and the Castle Junction, where the incident that led to the death of Sergeant Adjetey occurred. They would also re-enact the Independence of Ghana on March 5, 2007. Prior to that GAD would hold its awards night on February 17, 2007 at the National Theatre.
