The irresponsible propagating of lies about who is and who is not a founder of this nation, is now getting out of hands. The Nkrumaists who only announce their presence during election years, must be held responsible for all acts of hooliganism and lawlessness that will result from whatever they say.
Nkrumah, like any human, had his faults. The leaders after him, also had theirs, which we freely talk about. But why is it that whenever Nkrumah’s faults are told, the socialists get so upset? Why is Nkrumah revered as God, whose name must only be mentioned sacredly?
The insistence that Nkrumah is the only founder of this nation, exposes the diabolical plots of all Nkrumaists and socialists.
History has it that, on Tuesday March 6, 1844, some traditional leaders in the south of this land, under the Bond of 1844, freely handed over their lands, natural resources and peoples to the British. Resulting in even, the chiefs having limited jurisdiction over their people and natural resources. All because they wanted protection from the Asantes who were fighting the British to prevent being colonised. And colonialism came in full circle, with indigenes almost treated as slaves in their own land.
Forty-three years on, in 1897, the Gold Coast Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) led by J.W. de Graft-Johnson, Jacob Wilson Sey, J. P. Brown, J.E. Casley Hayford and John Mensah Sarbah, was formed. The Society’s main aim was to contest the Bond of 1844 and liberate the chiefs and people from British absolute dominance. This dug the foundation for our independence by beginning political actions towards self-governance. These five gentlemen were the first founders of this nation. At that time J.B. Danquah was about two years old and Nkrumah was not even born.
With the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), fifty years later on August 4, 1947, it was only a matter of time, that peoples of the Gold Coast would gain their independence.
UGCC’s serious involvement in the struggle for independence became evident and developments in 1948 are classified as some.
In January 1948, the Osu Mantse, Nii Kobina Bonne III, initiated the boycott of European imports, which was scheduled to end on Saturday, February 28, 1948.
On Friday, February 20, 1948, J.B. Danquah and Kwame Nkrumah met and addressed the World War II veterans who had been agitating for the end-of-service benefits they were entitled to, having fought in the war. Both leading politicians gave their support and encouraged the veterans in their protest against this injustice.
On 28 February, the war veterans marched to the seat of government to submit a petition to Governor Sir Gerald Creasly about their poor conditions, unpaid war benefits and total neglect. For refusing to disperse, they were shot at and three of them, Sergeant Cornelius Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey, were killed. This led to another round of rioting and looting which lasted for five days.
On the same day, the UGCC sent a cable to the Secretary of State in London, stating clearly among other things that, unless the colonial government was changed and a new government of the chiefs and people were installed immediately, the conduct of the masses which was completely out of control would continue to escalate into worse violence.
It declared its readiness to form an interim government with a Constituent Assembly.
On Monday, March 1 1948, Governor Sir Creasly ordered the arrest of the UGCC members. Six of them, namely, J.B. Danquah, Ako Adjei, Edward Akufo-Addo, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori-Atta, who were founding members of the UGCC and Kwame Nkrumah, who was UGCC’s secretary were arrested and jailed.
Following their incarceration, the people of the Gold Coast called them the Big Six.
So, in truth, none of the six proposed to be called the Big Six, rather with the show of gratitude and appreciation for the bold steps the UGCC took, by siding with and supporting the people, they bestowed the name Big Six on them.
Either out of utter ignorance and the lack of decency to investigate how this name came about, or by mere desire to rewrite history to suit their irresponsible ambition and create confusion in this country, some Nkrumaists and members of the opposition have come to condemn the name the Big Six, even irrationally adding that nothing like that ever existed. To them, wherever the name J.B. Danquah appeared, nothing ever existed.
With this false education, an irresponsible Ghanaian, either on his own accord or paid to conduct acts of lawlessness, went to pull down the busts of the Big Six at the Kotoka International Airport roundabout. In that instance of incurable stupidity, Nkrumah’s bust was also broken down. Because of J.B Danquah, they broke down own their god’s statue.
The socialists do not want to acknowledge those who struggled for our independence, except Nkrumah, and they have been teaching wayward people to condemn those selfless nationalists, and so, the Big Six must be eliminated from history. They should have continued to the airport and remove Kotoka’s name. It would have helped their purpose. These nation wreckers must be made to pay for their crude reckless behaviours.
The founders of Ghana, are the ARPS, the UGCC and Nkrumah, Nii Kobina Bonne III, Nana Kobina Nketiah IV, who organised rail strikes, the slain veterans and few others.
Hon. Daniel Dugan
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect The Chronicle’s stance.
