News Commentary celebrates the founding fathers of Ghana and entreats present generation to serve the country passionately with great selflessness and devotion to national duty.
The nation Ghana as known today was established and guided by past national leaders whose patriotic spirit encouraged them to fight for the good of the country.
Political independence did not come by chance but had to be fought for by leaders whose concern was to ensure that the interest of the nation is guaranteed, protected and promoted for the good of all, including future generation.
It is, therefore, appropriate to recognise the contribution of such people and to pay them due respect so as to encourage the present generation to learn from them and be prepared to die a little for their country.
As a statutory public holiday, 4th August has been chosen as the date for Founders’ Day to signify two important events in Ghana’s history.
First, it is the date for the formation of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society by John Mensah Sarbah in 1897 and second, the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention, UGCC in 1947 by J.B. Danquah and George Alfred Paa Grant.
The ARPS as political protest party was opposed to the British colonial policy in the Gold Coast colony primarily with the aim of defending the traditional land tenure system.
It remained the voice of the colonised people in the Gold Coast until its demise in the 1930s.
The idea of forming the ARPS had been incubated as early as 1895, but was shelved until May 17, 1897, when a meeting organised by the African intelligentsia in Cape Coast to protest against the proposed Lands Bill of 1894 to 1897 culminated in the formation of the society.
Thus, the main catalyst for the formation of the ARPS was the African intelligentsia’s protest against the Lands Bill.
Had the Lands Bill been passed, it would have allowed the colonial government to take over so-called waste or public lands.
In the case of the UGCC it was the first mass political party formed in the Gold Coast to spearhead social agitations for independence.
Initially, it started as a social group of mostly the merchants and educated elite.
Its slogan was “Self-Government within the shortest possible time”.
The chairman of the party was George Paa Grant, a wealthy businessman who was also the financier of the party.
The role of political leaders in the colonial era, including the Big Six, namely, JB Danquah, William Ofori-Atta, Kwame Nkrumah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, Edward Akufo-Addo and Ebenezer Ako Adjei, supported by other great intellectuals, businessmen, traders, the mass of the people including workers, contributed significantly to the dismantling of colonialism from the shores of Ghana.
This was a sweet and pleasant development that made it possible for the present generation to have political independence at the time it did, making Ghana the first sub-Saharan country to become free from colonial rule.
On this special occasion, we salute everyone whose contribution in the past has helped to make Ghana what it is today.
For the present generation, we encourage them to learn from the positive role of all our past leaders and to accept the challenge of continuing the effort towards national transformation, integration, progress and development.
The people of Ghana ought to know that they have a great nation which they must serve passionately with great selflessness, devotion and alacrity.
When things are done this way, the country will be able to move forward to a higher pedestal of development that will make life appreciably comfortable for all.
Written by Dr. Kofi Amponsah-Bediako, Director of Corporate Communications, Ghana Standards Authority