Former UN adviser on Governance, Professor Baffour Agyemang-Duah has stated the history of Ghana has been written and politicians do not write history.
Speaking on Morning Star with Lantam Papanko, Prof. Agyemang-Duah in referring to the late Professor Adu Boahen indicated that historians write history and politicians make history.
“Well, first of all, let us be clear that historians write history, and Politicians make history.
“It is not politicians who write history. The history of this country must be written and has been written by historians”, the Governance Expert stated.
Prof Agyemang-Duah also explained that he is not undermining the work of those who participated and people with personal experience. “Of course, it doesn’t exclude those with personal experiences. Even if they are not historians, they can also contribute to history.
“So, anybody can talk history. But in terms of an issue like this, I think it’s important we go to the facts as established by historians.
“And I think these energies we’re spending on whether it should be apostrophes before or after S and all, is a waste of national time. And I wish the president had not instigated this debate again. Because when he instituted the holiday for founders, some national discussions on that were gone. They’re coming back to forcefully indicate that you can completely reject a notion.”
Background
President Akufo-Addo says Ghana was founded by a single individual as a section of Ghanaians want the nation to believe.
According to him, there are several individuals and Ghanaians who played key roles in getting nation independence from the British.
Addressing the nation to mark the 2024 Founders’ Day, President Akufo-Addo indicated that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did not work for Ghana’s independence alone.
“I speak to you this evening, rejecting completely, the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge for ourselves that respect that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
“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 memorialize his date of birth as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, the only Ghanaian so far to be so honored in our history,” President Akufo-Addo stated.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/Worlali Jacklyn Afetormashie
