‘Don’t celebrate Nkrumah’: Veteran UPist

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

Veteran Politician, Mr Joshua Attoh Quarshie, says government’s decision to celebrate the centenary anniversary of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, is a waste of time and state resources.

According to him, Dr Nkrumah did not play any major role in Ghana’s quest to attain independence from the British and therefore does not deserve such an honorary celebration.

In his firm opinion, Mr George Alfred Grant (Paa Grant), Dr J. B. Danquah and Obetsebi-Lamptey were the frontrunners during the independence struggle, stressing that “Ghana’s history has been twisted to suit some individuals.”

“Kwame Nkrumah is a usurper and did not play any meaningful role before and during the struggle for independence, and must not be honoured. I sincerely think that the time has come for us to tell the real story of Ghana’s history,” stated the veteran Upist.

Mr Attoh Quarshie was sharing his thoughts on the celebration of the centenary anniversary of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, with TODAY in an exclusive interview in his official residence at Mamprobi, a suburb of Accra.

Mr Attoh Quarshie could not fathom why Ghanaians kept on singing the praises of Dr Nkrumah whom he described as “usurper.”

He described as pathetic the situation where the country has forgotten and relegated to the background the invaluable deeds of Paa Grant. He said that shows how dishonest Ghanaians are as a nation and a people.

“Paa Grant was full of wisdom and through constitution and legitimate means and not by the barrel of the gun knew that Ghana then Gold Coast would surely liberate itself from British colonialism, and therefore such a person deserves more than praise,” emphasized Mr Attoh Quarshie.

According to him, he could not understand why the State would invest so much money in the centenary celebration of Dr Nkrumah, who in his opinion did nothing to Ghana’s struggle for political independence.

He instead advised the ruling government to use part of the money earmarked for the celebration to honour Paa Grant.

“The money which will be expended on the 100 years anniversary of Dr Nkrumah is a highly misplaced priority, because Nkrumah did nothing in the fight for the country’s independence. It is important that government uses part of the money to celebrate and honour Paa Grant for his immeasurable contribution,” the veteran politician observed.

In the estimation of the veteran politician, even before Dr Kwame Nkrumah arrived in the country, Gold Coasters had already been introduced to the idea of positive action by Paa Grant.

“The word positive action was introduced to Gold Coasters now Ghana by Paa Grant even before Nkrumah arrived. Positive action and positive revolutions; not by violence means but through constitutional means was first advocated by Paa Grant,” he explained.

He indicated that Paa Grant contributed enormously to set Gold Coast free, and therefore deserves a larger place in the country’s political history.

He wondered why all attention is always shifted unto Dr Nkrumah thereby making him look as the one person who brought freedom to Ghanaians.

“To me, I think Paa Grant is the father and founder of Ghana and not Dr Nkrumah as it is being portrayed in our history books,” he said.

Mr Attoh Quarshie, who is also a staunch member of the United Party-UP tradition, wondered why the educated elites of this country have always distorted Ghana’s history by sidelining Mr George Alfred Grant.

He lashed out at the elites and described them as cowards and stooges, who are scared of saying the truth.

“The so-called academicians are cowards and stooges when it comes to relaying the facts of Ghana’s political history. The children and generations yet unborn must be told the truth of our country’s history,” asserted Mr Attoh Quarshie.

BY ATO KEELSON & STEPHEN DARKO