Speaker of Parliament Prof Mike Oquaye has said Ghana was not founded by Kwame Nkrumah, the country’s first president, contrary to the popularly held historical view that he alone did.
“Men and women inspired by love for country met in Saltpond to work for self-governance and freedom from globalisation. I have great regard for Dr. Kwame Nkrumah as a great Ghanaian but the truth must be told. A recap of the chronology of events shows that before the arrival of Nkrumah, some gallant Ghanaians were taking steps to lead Ghana to independence. That is truism.
“People have regrettably asked how we can have more than one founder to such compatriots. I humbly lend them this advice: foundership cannot be pursued in monopoly terms,” Prof Oquaye, who is a historian said at the Ghana@60 Anniversary Committee public lecture held at the National Theatre on Friday, 4 August themed: “4th August; Ghana’s Day of Destiny”.
He also said the Convention People’s Party, founded by Nkrumah, must free itself from the bowels of the main opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) if it is to survive as a political party.
“The CPP has been penetrated by the newly created NDC and its men, the names of which we supplied and which I quoted extensor and that they have created confusion within the party which was then broken and fragmented into six political parties.
“And I wrote: ‘If the CPP wants to survive, they should not look our way because we are not out to destroy them. They must proceed to extricate themselves from the bowels of the NDC, then they will survive.’
“Because as at now they are swallowed and as a truism, they know or should know who swallowed them”, the Speaker said.
The CPP’s fortunes have reduced over the decades. It currently has no member of parliament.
