Akufo-Addo Refutes Notion That Ghana Was Dormant Before Nkrumah1 min read

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has challenged the belief that Ghanaians were inactive prior to the arrival of former President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the Convention People’s Party (CPP).

His comments, made during the 2024 Founders’ Day address on August 3, assert that Ghana’s history and development were not solely shaped by Nkrumah. Despite ongoing debates from supporters who view Nkrumah as the principal founder of Ghana, President Akufo-Addo has remained firm in his perspective.

In a ceremony marking Founders’ Day on August 5 in Accra, the President addressed the contention surrounding the significance of August 4th. He remarked, “Some people question the significance of this Founders’ Day celebration on August 4th, suggesting that Ghana was dormant until Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP came along.”

He reaffirmed his previous statements, emphasizing, “I have expressed my views on this topic multiple times, including in my speech last Saturday evening. I believe that the 2019 parliamentary consensus, which honors Kwame Nkrumah with a memorial day while recognizing the historical importance of August 4th, is a balanced and enduring solution.”