People Think we Were Asleep Until Nkrumah’s Arrival – Akufo-Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has reiterated his stance on the multifaceted origins of Ghana’s independence, emphasizing that the nation’s history extends beyond the contributions of former President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the Convention People’s Party (CPP). His comments, made during the 2024 Founders’ Day celebration on August 5 in Accra, sparked considerable debate among historians and the public.

Speaking at a gathering of senior citizens to commemorate the event, President Akufo-Addo addressed critics who argue that his position undermines Nkrumah’s pivotal role. “I know there are some who question this ceremony that is 4th August as Founders’ Day because they believe that we were asleep in Ghana until the arrival of Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP,” he remarked. The President stood by his earlier statements, highlighting the broader historical context and contributions from various figures in Ghana’s journey to independence.

President Akufo-Addo underscored the consensus reached by Parliament in 2019, which honors Dr. Nkrumah with a memorial day while recognizing the historical significance of August 4th. “I believe that the consensus that parliament arrived at in 2019, honouring Kwame Nkrumah in a memorial day and preserving the historical importance and significance of August 4th in our history, is a good consensus and it deserves to last,” he said.

The President’s remarks aim to foster a more inclusive understanding of Ghana’s path to nationhood, acknowledging the contributions of various leaders and movements that played crucial roles alongside Nkrumah and the CPP.