It is yet another February 24 and adherents/proponents of Nkrumaism are re-echoing their
description of this day as the 'Day of Doom', 'Sad Day', etc.
They pronounce any Ghanaian who had anything to do with the revolution or hails it, as unpatriotic or a traitor.
I do not intend by this piece to refute their claim but to present to them, and the reader, about how others view this day. This in my view will help curb the seeming division and the labeling of Ghanaians unpatriotic for it was not only politicians who suffered under the hands of Dr. Nkrumah but also several innocent people, some of whom where Traditional rulers.
Firstly, it was not only Kotoka and his colleagues who held the conviction that the coup was Nationalistic but also people like Alex Quaison-Sackey who was Nkrumah's former Minister of Foreign Affairs.
In their view, it marked the end of dictatorship and tyranny after Nkrumah declared himself President for life and banned all political parties in 1964. I am yet to read an irrefutable argument made by the Nkrumaist in defence of his 1964 declaration.
Some of them try to justify it by feebly suggesting that Ghana was not ready for multi-party democracy and/or his actions were consistent with the status quo. This argument is as weak as a spider's web.
Today, most of them are top politicians and call for democracy, freedom of the press,independence of the Judiciary, etc.How would they feel if similar actions were taken? I guess they would say the circumstances have changed. It is this behaviour of glorifying something when it suits you and bastardizing it when it opposes you that is sinking this country.
Some people think they are more patriotic than others and anyone who does not agree with them or think like them is unpatriotic.Where are we heading with this behaviour?
In addition, the so-called 'Day of Doom' marked the dawn of freedom for thousands of people,a majority of whom had been imprisoned wrongly without any trial. Some were held in 'condemned cells' and denied any rights. For them and those who where in exile, it was a great day worthy of celebrating like the 'Fall of Baghdad'. They could now see their loved ones and contribute to their development as well as that of their Nation.
Some of these people were traditional rulers who Nkrumah saw as his arch rivals. Their crime? Because they did not support him in the general elections. He destooled and/or exiled some of them whilst replacing their stools/skins with stooges.Thus, February 24 marked the re-establishement of their reigns and return from exile.
These two areas, not to talk of the Judiciary and Economy shows how other patriotic Ghanaians view February 24.
These are the painful moments of our history and recounting them is regratable but necessary.
Nkrumah was not Ghanaian more than those traditional rulers he destooled/deskinned and consequently exiled them from their motherland.
So enough of the insults and labelling of people as unpatriotic and traitors because you think the 1966 coup was wrong. We should all learn from our history and forge ahead as a Nation.
The lessons we learn is that Ghana belongs to all of us. It is our collective responsibility to build a prosperous Nation.
We should not allow our zeal overcome us to do wrong all in the name of building a prosperous Ghana.
God bless our homeland Ghana!
Source: Issah Imoro
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