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General Secretary of the opposition National Democratic Congress [NDC], Johnson Asiedu Nketia has said that calamity will befall the country should parliament approve President Akufo-Addo’s proposal to establish 4th August as Founders day.

To him, the change of Founder’s Day to Founders Day by the President is a groundless intention because the same people he wants to honour were those who boycotted the passing of the independence law in parliament; as such do not deserve to be celebrated as freedom fighters.

“ . . If we allow this thing to happen in Ghana, unthinkable calamities shall befall Ghana because God will not bless this country for diluting the efforts of Nkrumah to favour another person,” he highlighted.

General Mosquito as he is affectionately called in an interview with Otec FM stated that, members of the ‘Big Six’ who the President seeks to honour as freedom fighters are not worth that honour; 60 years after they boycotted an exercise that has given us independence today.

According to him, this needless move by President Nana Akufo-Addo, is just to honour his uncle and father now that he has been given the mandate to lead this great nation after three failed attempts.

He recalled that the Republic of Ghana changed from Left hand driven vehicles to right on August 4th, 1974, an occasion worth celebrating instead of this 'unwarranted' proposed Founders’ Day.

Asiedu Nketia questioned how the 'Big Six' failed to recognize the founder and bankroller of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), Paa Grant, for President Akufo-Addo to claim his (Paa Grant) party fought for Ghana’s independence.

“Why do they claim to be from the Danquah-Busia tradition and not from the tradition of Paa Grant who was the founder of the UGCC,” he added.

He said “I pray citizens will never accept to observe August 4 as a public holiday, should the majority in parliament approve the President’s proposed legislation”.

Background

President Nana Akufo-Addo is proposing legislation to Parliament to designate August 4 as Founders Day, ditching September 21 as the commemorative day for Ghana’s liberation and independence fighters.

However, September 21 will be observed as 'Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day'.

Both days – August 4 and September 21 -- will be observed as public holidays, according to a statement signed by the Director of Communications at the presidency, Mr Eugene Arhin said.