I Reject Completely That One Man Founded Ghana Akufo Addo

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo says it will be unfair to other patriotic heroes if one person is credited for founding Ghana. 

The president strongly disagreed with the notion that Dr Kwame Nkrumah solely founded Ghana in his 2024 Founders’ Day address to the nation.

But he acknowledges his immense contribution to Ghana's freedom from colonial masters.

“I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely, the notion that one man founded Ghana. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is significant to acknowledge for ourselves that respect that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” President Akufo Addo said in his broadcast.

Adding that: “The formation of the Aborigines Rights Protection, the British West African Nation Congress, the United Gold Coast Convention, the work of countless unsung heroes, and the tenacious spirit of our people all played vital parts in bringing us to freedom and independence.

“Kwame Nkrumah with his charismatic visionary leadership was undoubtedly a major actor in the final lap of our journey to independence and that is why despite the several unfortunate things that happened after independence under his watch, Parliament in 2019, decided to memorialise his date of birth as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, the only Ghanaian so far to be so honoured in our history.”

In 2019, Parliament passed a law establishing August 4 as Founders’ Day to honour the collective efforts of those who contributed to Ghana’s independence struggle, while designating September 21 as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.King Edward Ambrose Washman/