Editor of the Insight Newspaper Kwesi Pratt Jnr is challenging the fact of history which names the founding members of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) as the big six.
According to him, five of those founding members betrayed Dr Kwame Nkrumah and are not deserving of the national accolade, The Big Six. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Dr. J.B. Danquah, William Ofori Atta, Ebenezer Ako Adjei, Emmanuel Odarkwei Obetsebi Lamptey, and Edward Akufo-Addo were arrested and detained for their role in the 1948 riots which also served as the launch pad for Ghana’s independence.
Even though Dr. Kwame Nkrumah broke away to form the Convention People’s Party in 1949 which eventually won independence in 1957, the role of The Big Six has been acknowledged by historians.
To immortalise their roles in the independence struggle, the pictures of the six leading members of the then UGCC have been printed on the country’s currency.
But some followers of the Convention People’s Party, including, Kwesi Pratt Jnr Dr. Agyemang Badu Akosa have contrary opinions and believe the story of The Big Six must be retold. “The fact of history proved that all five denied their involvement in the organisation of the 1948 riots which led to the arrest and in fact all of them blamed the rioting on Nkrumah. I don’t see how they can profit from the rioting they so vehemently denounced,” he told Joy News.
Kwesi Pratt Jnr. believes The Big Six role in Ghana's history should be redefined. Mr. Pratt who does not believe in the value of having a big six, said even if it is necessary at all, the names mentioned above are wrong.
For him, the five men who together stood on the platform with Dr Nkrumah during the famous Independence Declaration in 1957 at Palladium in Accra are the heroes or big six.
He accused elements within the Danquah/Busia tradition for denigrating the achievements of Nkrumah and warned they will hit a brick wall in the attempt.
Meanwhile, Deputy Minister of Information, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa is calling for a national debate to put the issue of The Big Six in its right perspective. He claimed to have his own idea which people constituted The Big Six but will let it out when a national debate is organised.
Source: myjoyonline.com/ghana
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