President Akufo-Addo (Right)
Ghanaians
across the country and the world have observed the 2019 edition of Founders’
Day.
Founders’
Day is a statutory public holiday celebrated on 4th August annually.
With
this year’s edition falling on yesterday (Sunday), today (Monday) is being
observed as a holiday according to a public notice issued by the Ministry of
the Interior.
Prior
to the passing of the Public Holiday Amendment Bill into
law in March 2019, 21st September which is the birthday of Ghana’s
first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was regarded as the Founders’ Day.
Background To Founders’ Day Celebration
It
would be recalled that in 1874, Great Britain colonized Ghana then referred to
as the Gold Coast.
But
after Britain was weakened by World War II, there was a rising desire for
independence, with Ghana becoming the first sub-Saharan African country to gain
independence on 6th March 1957.
August
4 marks two important milestones in Ghana’s history.
Firstly,
August 4 is the date for the formation of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection
Society by John Mensah Sarbah in 1897, and the formation of the United Gold
Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 by the founding fathers.
In
a message to the nation yesterday, President Akufo-Addo said: “We acknowledge
the role played by successive generations of Ghanaians towards the liberation
of our country from colonization and imperialism.”
“It
is time we rose above partisan considerations, set the record straight,
recognised the collective efforts in gaining our freedom and independence from
colonial rule…”
The President paid tribute to all senior citizens across Ghana.
BY Melvin Tarlue
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