The Ministry of Interior has reminded the public that Monday, September 21, 2020 is a public holiday marking Kwame Nkrumah Memorial day.
The general public is hereby reminded that it is a Statutory Public Holiday and should be observed as such throughout the country, a press statement issued by the Ministry of Interior and signed by the Minister, Mr Ambrose Dery said.
The general public is advised to observe the safety protocols associated with the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), especially in relation to social events at public places, the statement added.
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, is a day set aside to remember and honour Ghana’s first President.
In the past the celebration of the day had been marked with some controversy.
While some are of the view that Dr Nkrumah is the sole founder of Ghana, others think there were many people who contributed to the founding of the modern state of Ghana, notably the other members of Big Six.
They argue that the other five members of the Big Six; William Ofori Atta, Ako Adjei, J.B Danquah, Edward Akufo-Addo and Obetsebi Lamptey, also played pivotal roles in the independence struggle and ought to be celebrated alongside the first President.
Former President John Evans Atta Mills’ government initiated a legislation in Parliament to declare today, September 21, a holiday in memory of Dr Nkrumah.
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana’s first President, was born on September 21, 1909 at Nkroful in the Western Region.
He attended Achimota School and also trained as a teacher. He went to the United States in 1935 for advanced studies, receiving a B.A. from Lincoln University in 1939.
On June 12, 1949, Dr Nkrumah led the formation of the CPP at Arena in Accra.
Dr Nkrumah declared “positive action” on January 8, 1950 in front of a large CPP crowd at a public meeting in Accra. He travelled to Sekondi, Cape Coast and Takoradi to repeat it.
The colonial government declared a state of emergency which took effect from January 12, 1950 and prohibited the holding of processions, imposed curfews and disconnected public services in certain areas.
Dr Nkrumah was arrested on January 21, 1950, tried for inciting an illegal strike and sedition for an article in the Cape Coast Daily Mail and sentenced to three years imprisonment.
He was freed to form a government, and he led the colony to independence in 1957.
A firm believer in African liberation, Nkrumah pursued a radical pan-African policy, playing a key role in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity in 1963.
Overthrown by the military in 1966, he spent his last years in exile, dying in Bucharest, Romania, on April 27, 1972.
