The Founding Of Modern Day Ghana: The Historical Antecedents: Statement By Dr. Kingsley Nyarko
Dr. Kingsley Nyarko, Executive Director, Danquah Institute; Senior Lecturer, University Of Ghana
SPEECH DELIVERED AT TESCON KNUST SPECIAL PROGRAM
1ST OCTOBER, 2017
I am greatly honored to speak to the topic, “The Founding of Modern Day Ghana: The Historical Antecedents.” This is an important topic, but I think at this time of our development, we should be talking about something different. I think we should be talking about how to deliver this country from the economic quagmire, and place it on the path of progress and development. But, as I have indicated earlier, the topic is important because it will help us to know our past, and how the past has shaped our future, and those who have contributed to the development of our nation.
I think on a topic that bothers on our Statehood, nobody should attempt to focus on the superiority of one nationalist over the other; neither should there be a deliberate attempt to belittle the contributions of any personality towards the emancipation and development of our motherland. As much as possible, we should focus on sacrifice, commitment to the nation and appreciation of the efforts of our patriots regardless of political leanings. Ghana, our motherland, is a great land blessed with beautiful people and great minds; it is a land of enormous opportunities, resources and talents. With the uniqueness of our diversities, we stand a better chance of overcoming the obstacles that have brought nations on their knees if stand united and not divided.
During the colonial rule, our forefathers had differences, yet, they came together to pursue a common and worthy end—the emancipation from colonial domination. Some had the vision, others carried the vision, and others made the vision a reality. We need to applaud them all; they all deserve their rightful place in the annals of our history. The vision is not ended, we have to carry the vision and see to its realization. We cannot achieve it when we allow extreme partisanship to take over our consciences.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to state unequivocally, that Ghana was not founded on 6th March, 1957. Before 6th March 1957, Ghana existed. It was called the Gold Coast. Ghana had been colonized by the British; so on the day of independence, we only became free from colonial domination. So to equate the day of independence to the founding of the country is erroneous. Again, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did not singlehandedly obtain independence for us; the journey to independence was a process. Our independence was attained by patriotic Ghanaians at that time. At a recent symposium organized by the Danquah Institute on 10th August, 2017, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, a leading member of the CPP, and a renowned scholar said, “I know all about the CPP—the good and the bad. I am an intellectual. It can’t be one founder of the nation.” He continued, “It is important to recognize the roles the UGCC played in attaining the independence.” Mr. Chairman, have you ever seen one person giving birth before?
On Friday, 4th August, 2017, the day UGCC was born, I published an article titled, “The Struggle for Independence and the Unique Role of the UGCC.” In the article, I clearly pointed out that the struggle for our independence was not achieved on a silver platter, but that several of our patriots sacrificed their energies, resources, and even their lives to ensure that we became free from colonial oppression. In every society, there were people who stood in the gap between the present and the future; these are individuals who wanted to leave an enduring legacy for posterity. These are people who came to the conclusion that they have to live for the future; never valued their existence until it was linked to the liberation of their people. We live to impact our world and leave a legacy for our generation and posterity. Because the meaningfulness of our existence lies in the impact we make on society, we need to consciously reward patriotism and nationalism and deeds that encourage others to sacrifice their lives for the benefit of society.
Mr. Chairman, I would like to crave on your indulgence to ask this question, “What will happen to Ghana should we have founders’ day?” I ask this question because, when we detach ourselves from emotionalism, and extreme partisanship, we shall discover that, those who led the fight for our emancipation are all Ghanaians and patriotic ones as such. When partisanship and pettiness reign in any society, her progress is normally impeded. I am very much persuaded that we shall stand more united when we impartially accord our heroes their befitting role in our society.
Sixty years before independence, a pressure group—Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was formed with the sole aim of safeguarding the property of the indigenes; when the colonial administration decided to introduce the Forest Ordinance in 1911, they resisted it. It was this same Society that stood behind the Big Six when they were arrested and detained, when the chiefs stood behind the Colonial Administration against their own. The leadership of the ARPS paid their dues in the fight towards our emancipation.
I need also mention J. E. Casely Hayford, who formed the West African Conference in 1917, which later became the West African Congress in 1920. This was the first pressure group that clearly demanded self-determination from the colonial administration. Though it eventually demised, its role can never be pushed under the carpet. They came to the realization that the time had come for the indigenes to take their destiny into their own hands; they needed to determine their own future. Their aim was to invite the West African colonies under the British to demand “self-determination” and “no taxation without representation.” Three of their most crucial demands were self-government which should be implemented in order to enable peoples of African descent to be part of the governance of their own country, the granting of elective franchise, the abolishing of the system of nomination to the Legislative Council because of its undemocratic nature (Ofosu-Appiah, 1974).
When J. B. Danquah returned home in 1927 after obtaining his doctorate degree, he created an intellectual ferment in the country. He established a law firm, as well as the first daily paper in the country. Together with journalists such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, K. A. B. Jones Quartey, they provided the enabling political atmosphere that raised national consciousness and awareness towards emancipation. Through their mediums, the indigenes were informed about happenings in the country, their depravity, and neglect to second-class citizens on their own land. It must be emphasized that it was through the hard work and sacrifices of the journalists that prompted the people to demand that a delegation of chiefs and the people be sent to protest at the colonial office in London over the Criminal Code (Amendment) Ordinance, popularly called the Sedition Bill, and the Water Works Ordinance of 1934. Dr. J. B. Danquah was the leader of the delegation as the secretary, and demanded, in addition to the two demands stated above, an increase in the number of Africans on the Legislative Council, the election of the provincial council members for the Eastern Province by the Whole Provincial Council, and non-chiefs becoming provincial members.
In the 1940s, the desire for freedom was intensified as the intelligentsia gave their all and ensured that the people got involved in determining their own destiny. Thus, when J. B. Danquah and Mr. George Alfred Grant met in Sekondi, the plan to establish a political party was agreed on. Mr. Grant was not happy about the socio-economic problems at the time and said to Dr. Danquah, “Danquah, the country is slipping down the hill, and what are you doing about it?” Dr. J. B. Danquah replied, “I am in your hands, Sir.” This interaction led to a meeting among Dr. Danquah, Mr. F. Awoonor-Williams, Mr. R. S. Blay, and Mr. Grant. It was at this meeting that led to the eventual formation of the UGCC in Saltpond, on 4th August, 1947.
This day, unarguably, represents the most important step towards the attainment of independence in the Gold Coast. At the inauguration, Mr. Grant was elected the chairman for the occasion, and Dr. J. B. Danquah delivered the inaugural address. Excerpt of the address reads, “We have, as I said, come to Saltpond for a decision. We have come to Saltpond to ponder and to deliberate upon the ways and means to bring an end to this insecurity and this frustration. British freedom is a precious thing. But British freedom is not Gold Coast freedom. British freedom is grand to have, but you cannot have and possess British liberty in a Gold Coast atmosphere. We must have, here and now, if we are to be well governed, a new kind of freedom, a Gold Coast freedom, a Gold Coast liberty.” The address was so potent and touching to the extent that it was able to create a national awareness, and craving for freedom. After the speech, which was greeted with deafening applause, Mrs. J. B. Eyeson mounted the podium and said, “Dr. Danquah, we had in the past given enthusiastic support to the cause of the Church. Today it is the cause of the nation. Women of the country are behind you.” (Ofosu-Appiah, 1974, p.52, 53).
It must be stated without any shred of doubt, that the dawn of the UGCC prepared the grounds for our independence. In fact, it was the prelude to our independence. As the first political party in the country, the intentions and subsequent activities of our nationalists made the attainment of independence a reality. All this time, Mr. Chair, Kwame Nkrumah was not in the country; however, upon the recommendation to the executive committee of the UGCC by Mr. Arko-Adjei, he was invited to become the secretary of the convention. Because of the passion of the leadership of the UGCC towards the liberation of the people, they paid Kwame Nkrumah’s travelling expenses, and he arrived in the country on 10th December, 1947. He was met at the Takoradi harbour by Mr. R. S. Blay who took him to his house at Sekondi. It must also be pointed out that, among the leadership of the convention, he was the only person who received monthly salary. For the other nationalists to use their own resources to bring Kwame Nkrumah back home and pay his salary to help in the struggle clearly shows their resolve and passion for freedom. This commitment towards liberation underscores the significant role of the UGCC towards our Statehood. It will therefore be a travesty if these gallant and noble men are denied their rightful place in our history.
Events after the 1948 riots—which led to the death of Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe, and Private Odartey Lamptey, represent a watershed in our march towards freedom. The arrest and subsequent detention of the Big SIX (J. B. Danquah, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ako-Adjei, E. Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori-Atta and Kwame Nkrumah) made the UGCC very popular among the grassroots. The cablegram that J. B. Danquah, a member of the executive committee of the UGCC sent to the Secretary of State for the colonies in the United Kingdom demanding the recall of Governor Creasy, the dispatch of a special Commissioner, the establishment of an interim government to be run by the UGCC, and a Constituent Assembly shows the UGCC was yearning for freedom. This revelation diffuses suggestions that the UGCC was against the independence of Ghana. This is an obvious distortion of our history. Although, the objective of the Convention was the attainment of self-government in the shortest possible time, it was steadily moving in that direction until Kwame Nkrumah broke away to form the Convention People’s Party (when he was demoted to the position of treasurer)—which was the party that had formed the government when we won independence on 6th March, 1957. Indeed Nkrumah has stated in his book Ghana: The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah, that he accepted the offer to be the General Secretary of the UGCC in order to form a different political movement. Clearly, he had an agenda unknown to those who offered him the opportunity to be part of the fight for freedom. We must also applaud Kwame Nkrumah for leading us to achieve independence.
From the above, it is clear that patriotic Ghanaians fought for our emancipation. Those individuals, who led the way, deserve to be commended and applauded. But, for patriots like Mr. Alfred Grant, R. S. Blay, F. Awoonor Williams and Dr. J. B. Danquah, who came together to form a political party to salvage the country from its economic doldrums, and their invitation of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to be part of the preparation towards independence, probably, 6th March, 1957 would have been a mirage.
The independence of Ghana has been a struggle—one that has involved nationalists of our dear nation. In the course of the struggle, some went through pain, others were maimed, and others lost their lives. They went through all these because they sought the best for the nation. They needed emancipation for the country so that they could determine their own destiny. Some of our forebears died through the struggle so we could live; it will be immoral if in chronicling the pillars of our nation, we deliberately exclude others as a result of politics. Let us, without discrimination honour the memory of our freedom fighters; let us make them fulfilled in their graves; let us make them relish their efforts that have brought us this far in our development. I favour founders’ day because of the belief that our attainment of independence was a collective effort, and also the undeniable fact that it will unite us as a people.