Ghana's Independence is meaningless, high rate of corruption

How can we still be celebrating INDEPENDENCE DAY in Ghana when the nation is not dependant ; we are spending huge sums of monies to celebrate this occasion when we continue borrowing from our colonial masters.

However, it was very beautiful on the 6th March, 1957 as our first Prime minister and President of Ghana declared "GHANA OUR BELOVED COUNTRY IS FREE FOREVER". Let's come to think of this, is Ghana really free forever? Still depending and borrowing from the western people we drove away to let us have our liberty, do we even use those monies we borrowed from our colonial Master to execute it's purpose?

Let me throw more light on how our independence was accurately achieved at the wrong time; yes! Sometimes we do the RIGHT THINGS AT THE WRONG TIME AND THE WRONG THINGS AT THE RIGHT TIME.

The vision and mission was " SELF GOVERNMENT WITHIN THE SHORTEST POSSIBLE TIME" this was very strategic by the founders of UGCC, they focused and thought about the future generations. However, the obstacle mission called " SELF GOVERNMENT NOW" ruin down the actual foundation to plan for a better Ghana. The Ghana which would have been much better than South Africa or same.

Let me give a flashback on the road to independence; The first political party was formed in August 1947 by Paa Grant, Dr. J.B Danquah and others. It was named the United Gold Coast Convention (U.G.C.C). Its slogan was “Self Government within the Shortest Possible Time”.

The U.G.C.C. therefore invited Dr. Kwame Nkrumah home from his studies to become the full-time General Secretary of the Party. The U.G.C.C. had earlier on criticized the Burns Constitution of 1946 introduced by Governor Sir Allan Burns.

In January 1948, Nii Kwabena Bonne III, a Ga Chief organized a general boycott of all European imports. A series of riots followed the boycott in early February, 1948. The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the famous February 28, 1948 incident.

Unarmed ex-servicemen marched to the Christiansborg Castle on that day to submit a petition to the Governor about their poor conditions. Superintendent Imray, a white police officer, ordered the policemen at the castle to shoot. When the police refused to do so, Imray himself opened fire on the unarmed soldiers at the Christiansborg crossroad.

Three of the leaders namely; Sergeant Adjetey, Private Odartey Lamptey and Corporal Attipoe fell dead. Thereafter, riots broke out in Accra. European and Asian stores were looted by the angry mob. The rioters forced open the Central Prison and set free its inmates.

After the riots, the Nationalist leaders in Ghana sent a strong worded cable to the Secretary of State in London. They blamed the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy, greatly. They called him “Crazy Creasy” because he had failed to handle the problems facing the country. The Secretary of State however blamed the Nationalist leaders for being responsible for the disturbances in the country.

Consequently, six of the leading nationalist were arrested and detained. They were popularly referred to as the BIG SIX. These leaders were J.B Danquah, Kwame Nkrumah, Obetsebi Lamptey, Akuffo Addo, William Ofori Atta and Ako Adjei.

It is very sad today to see corrupt leaders embezzling state funds and have made corruption their daily prayers.

Ghana is 59 years today since independence yet still we import things like Mats, Toothpicks, Cocoa seedlings, Chocolates and chairs.

Permit me to pause here watch out for PART 2