59 years of Liberation or Incarceration?:Mirroring Ghana’s voyage from 1960. – Abdus Samad Larry Abdur Raheem

Exactly 59 years ago, July 1, 1960, Ghana attained republican status. After March 6, 1957, which marked independence from the century long dehumanization, persecution and incarcerations, Ghana completely weaned itself from the chains of the Queen. Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah became the first President of the Republic.

The beautiful aspect of our freedom was that, it lubricated the elbows of freedom chanteurs elsewhere. We therefore served as a touchstone for the struggle in Sub-Saharan Africa. Countries like Guinea, Nigeria, Cameroon, Senegal, Mali rode largely on our gains to ward off their pains.

*Republic? What does it mean?*

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, “republic, is a form of government in which a state is ruled by representatives of the citizen body. Modern republics are founded on the idea that sovereignty rests with the people, though who is included and excluded from the category of the people has varied across history.”

A republican status for Ghana meant that, the Queen, British Governor then, and his several lieutenants no longer had a say in how we govern or mis-govern ourselves. That decision was now solely within the ambit of Ghanaian leaders on behalf of the larger populace. The black person obtained the right to prove that, he or she was indeed capable of running his own affairs.

Until recently, the Republic Day also known in Ghana as Senior Citizens day was observed as a national holiday. However, the Akufo Addo adminisration through it’s amendment of the Public Holidays Act has restored it to its commemorative status. This means it will be observed but not as a national holiday. Workers, school children and the likes will go through the day like any normal weekday.

*From 1960: the voyage thus far*

It has not been smooth sailing. The journey has been marred with several setbacks. From political unskinning, through economic hardships to social immorality. The story has been one that can be likened to settlements in Trassaco, Osu and Old Fadama, Good, Bad and the Ugly.

*The Birth of the Republic*



The republic was ushered in with election of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah of the Convention People’s Party(CPP) on April 27, 1960 against Dr. J.B Danquah, doyen of Ghana politics, of United Party(UP). With a margin that was described as a landslide, Nkrumah won the first presidential election in Ghana’s history. 65 days after the election, 59 years today, Nkrumah took the oath of office alongside the promulgation of the 1960 Republican Constitution, ending the rein of Governor William Hare.

On February 24, 1966, a beautiful beginning came to a regrettable end. Nkrumah was overthrown amidst several accusations of curtailment of freedom, corruption and the likes. The forbearers of this heinous exercise were Col. E.K. Kotoka, Major A.A. Afrifa and Mr. J.W.K. Harley, the then Inspector-General of Police.
This marked the beginning of several other coups until 1992 when Ghana returned to civilian rule.

In all, Ghana’s democratic dispensation was fraught with five coups. National Liberation Council(NLC) 1966, Supreme Military Council I (SMC I) 1969, Supreme Military Council II(SMC II) 1978, Armed Forces Revolutionary Council(AFRC) 1979, and Provisional National Defence Council(PNDC) 1981.

*Rebirth of Civilian Rule*



After all the dark spots, Ghana happened to have found the perfect lotion to keep her attractive. Evidence is in the several other nations that have and continue to request her hand in political and economic marriages. Additionally, she has successfully seen the arrival and peaceful departure of presidents through the thumb. Next year’s election which will undoubtedly be peaceful, relying on previous ones as a case study, marks 28 years of our enviable “Noble Peace Prize” in democracy.

From Flt. Lieutenant Jerry John Rawlings(NDC) 1992, John Agyekum Kuffuor(NPP) 2000, through late Prof. John Evans Atta Mills(NDC) 2008, whose death left the nation devastated and teary, John Dramani Mahama(NDC) 2012 and finally to the man who ended the era of the ‘JOHNS’, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo(NPP) 2016, Ghana has built and maintained a pride of place in the echelon of democracies. Certainly, something to smile about.

*Liberation or Incarceration?*

The norm, on this day or independence day, has been such that, most of us rely on the negatives, forgetting to acknowledge the several positives. On radio, tv, print and social media you find people “majoring on imaginables and minoring in realities”.

“After so many years, we are still begging for aid”, “Just look at potholes on our roads, insufficient drugs in our hospitals, corruption in our public sector. There is nothing to be proud of”, “…Oh Ghana, when ooo when”. These are but a few of the lamentations of some Ghanaians.

What these ‘lamenteurs’ fail to appreciate is that, irrespective of the gloomy skies, there are and continue to be gains we cannot shy away from. Some of which I have mentioned earlier. Let it not be misconstrued, that I am asking us to overlook our plight as though a translucent object stands between it and our sight. My call is for us to find strength in our weakness, joy in our sorrow, patriotism in our anger and satisfaction in our hunger.

No matter the narrative, Ghana is all we have. We cannot afford to continue pointing our left finger at it. You desire to live like others in New York, London, Singapore, I know because I desire same. Look back, look at people living in Darfur, Gitega, N’Djamena and bolster your belief in some light ahead. You may not be living in heaven but at least you are not a neighbour to hell.

We may not have fully liberated ourselves from the unpalatable grasp of the ‘white fisted parasite’ but certainly aren’t living in bondage.

*Happy 59th Republic Day to all Ghanaians*

Credit. Abdus Samad Larry Abdur Raheem