The Ashanti Regional Chairman of the victorious New Patriotic Party (NPP) Mr. Bernard Antwi Boasiako has begun a campaign to redefine the historical tradition of the party.
The young and energetic Regional Chairman of the party wants the party's tradition, currently known as Danquah-Busia-Dombo to be known and called Danquah-Busia-Dombo-Akoto tradition, in recognition of the invaluable role played by the late Chief Linguist of the Asante Kingdom, Baffour Osei Akoto.
The late Chief Linguist (Akyeamehene) is credited with the formation of the National Liberation Movement (NLM) which together with the Northern People's Party later metamorphosed into the now New Patriotic Party.
The late Baffour Akoto, who was incarcerated by the CPP regime headed by Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was said to have sacrificed his life for the survival of the UP tradition.
History has it that the seed money of £7,000.00 pounds was donated by the then Ashanti King to set the tone for the formation of the NLM whose idea was masterminded by the late Baffour Osei Akoto.
Since then the NPP tradition has been known and called Danquah-Busia-Dombo with the name of Baffour Akoto Osei conspicuously missing.
However, several years down the line, it appears that history maybe rewritten with the Ashanti Regional Chairman pushing an agenda to get the facts corrected.
The young and energetic Chairman Wontumi is reportedly preparing to send petitions to the various hierarchies of the party including the National Executive Committee, National Council of Elders, Office of the President-elect, Regional Executive Committee and all other hierarchies within the party.
Chairman Wontumi, in justifying his decision, alluded to the famous speech made by the National Chairman of the Council of Elders, Mr. C. K Tedam, during the party's National Congress in Tamale, where he played glowing tribute to the late Chief Linguist for his role and influence resulting in a successful alliance leading to the formation of the NPP.
Mr. Tedam in his speech made reference to how both leaderships of the NLM and the Northern People's Party unanimously agreed to make the late Chief Linguist the leader of the alliance because of his political experience and organizational competence.
Source: Chris Joe Quaicoe/ email: [email protected]
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Give credit where Credit is due. Baffour Akoto sacrifice his life wahiles he was Jailed by Dr.Nkrumah. After General Acheampong overthrew Dr. Busia , he was harrassed and jailed again for a couple of weeks. When Flt Lt. Rawlings took power the same happened. Baffour Akoto back then and now was the Opposition Leader just like Nana Akuffo Addo during Dr. Nkrumah's reign. The only difference between Baffour and Nana Addfo was he was in jail for 6years. If you check the History Books , he also advocated Federal System of Government just like the USA or Nigeria where each region will have to develop on their own instead of waiting on the Government.
The New Patriotic Party is a Ghana Nation State political party. It carries a Ghana Nation State character even if it was seeded into a registered political party in the heart and bosom of Asante Manhyia. The $730.000.000 seed fee for the party's registration into/and as a political party was doled out by an Asante Nation State king. This is most significant given the historical character of Asante in The Gold Coast. Asante bowed out for the generation of the Republic of Ghana by the Asante King's kind gesture. NPP has managed to shed any ethnocentric sentiments for the party to shoot up this much national and this much Ghanaian.What NPP actually calls for and is in need of is a political philosophy that puts into context the underdevelopment situation with Ghana is currently grappling. It is troubling situation that comes reflected and acted in every single home of mother Ghana. We draw strength from the individual human resources that compose Ghana to work grow to healthy growth the Ghana Nation State ECONOMY. It is our national human creativity that is challenged here. We need to create and invent fitting and healthy technologies to transform the home and the environment. Alongside it, we should create and build worthy literature that mirror our intellectual being here below in West Africa.Let us write worthy books for developing Ghana.
Some die-hards in Volta Region have made historical contributions to the party and its tradition, I hope these aspects are incorporated as well. If any one has some clear records of the Volta support for NPP in the past, can he/she bring it to light as soon as possible so that it is not brought in too late in the day. The NPP govt is not just for Akan, it is for all who played a role in it. Chairman Wontumi is just adding what he can vouch for, it is up to others to add theirs as well. Nobody is going to be left out unless he/she want to be left out.
There are several people from all parts of Ghana who contributed to the party. Amewu should remember that all that he did in the Volta Region will not and will never be recognised. History books should be read without bigoted lenses
Very good idea but has the tendency to be described as "Ashanti Hegemony" in the NPP which is not good. I suggest the status quo should be maintained for now. We need a national cohesion.
Chairman Wontumi it's a good idea but don't agree on that. If so then it means Lawyer Obetsebi Lantey who was buried alive because of the UP needs to be added and the names will be endless. The creators of the tradition separated the country into three and took one from each sector to arrive at the 3 personalities. Meaning Danquah for the whole of the south,Busia for the middle belt and Dombo for the North. We need to accept it and observe that,remember B/A was part of the Ashanti Kingdom which Busia belonged and this tradition was there when even Victor Owusu was alive,we do not have to let ndc divide us as they've been able to do with the Ashantis and the B/A while they tried to unite Western and Central for votes. Rawlings the founder have seen everything wrong with that division hence calling his party members bad and evil people in it. Chairman Wontumi you've done well but this should be left alone to maintain the unity in the party. Don't give the ndc weapon to use against us. Close this chapter.
INFACT I WAS YOUNG BUT IT WAS THESE FOUR PEOPLE'S I USED TO HEAR, BUT THE MOST PROMINENT AMONG THEM WAS BAFFOUR AKOTO SINCE HE WAS FROM ASHANTI. INFACT ALL THE SONGS WE SANG IN THE EVENING BORE BAFFOUR AKOTO'S NAME. I WAS YOUNG THEN BUT DIDN'T UNDERSTAND.
WORTHY COURSE LET THE LEADERSHIP OF NPP LISTERN TO THIS YOUNG MAN AND GIVE CREDIT WHERE IT SUPPOSE TO .