Former General Secretary of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Kwabena Agyei Agyapong, is lacing his boots to contest the party’s flagbearer position ahead of the 2024 general elections. He says his desire to lead the party and run for the presidency is borne out of a commitment to humanity, given the political ideals of the NPP. “Today, I want to make it clear. As soon as the party allows for nominations to be filed for the flagbearer of the party, I will file”, he said on the Point of View on Citi TV on Wednesday. Kwabena Agyapong, who has contested the NPP flagbearership in the past, believes party members cannot lose sight of his long and dedicated service to the NPP because that makes him fit for the task ahead. “The party has rules and regulations, and we don’t need to jump the gun and when the time comes, you will know the warmth of the youth because my message resonates with them. They see, in me, the hope of our political tradition because I have worked under all the leadership of this party.” Kwabena Agyapong was suspended in 2015 with the party’s former National Chairman, Paul Afoko, and a former National Vice Chairman, Sammy Crabbe, for misconduct. But the suspension was lifted six years later after a marathon National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting. The lifting of the suspension restored him as a member of the party’s NEC, Steering Committee, and the National Council according to the party’s constitution. Today, he says he “feels the pulse of the people of this country and has empathy because of what I have been through”. “I have seen the daily trajectory of the Ghanaian people and I think that there is an opportunity to change that narrative”, Kwabena Agyapong further emphasized. Kwabena Agyapong was found guilty of violating Article 3(d) of the party’s constitution, which requires members to uphold the party’s decisions. He was also accused of engaging in “unilateral actions and activities without consultation with or seeking authorization from the NEC.” Despite his suspension, Kwabena Agyapong assisted in pushing President Akufo-Addo’s political ambition. Although hurt by the decision taken against him, he is prepared to bring his rich experience to bear to break the eight for the party. This he intends to do by creating that enabling environment to galvanize the needed support. “We need harmony to rejuvenate the base of our party and the enthusiasm of our grassroots, campaign and win the election. I believe that our party has a lot more core members, but we have to reach out to the neutrals”. Source: Modern Ghana

General

Accra, Aug 4, GNA – Following the enactment of the Public Holiday (Amendment) Act 2019, (Act 968) by Parliament in March 2019, August 4 has been designated as Founders’ Day to celebrate and recongnise individuals who contributed to Ghana’s independence struggle.

The commemoration, which is marked as a public holiday in Ghana, replaced Founder’s Day, which was formerly celebrated on September 21, as the birthday of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

The Founders’ Day was first celebrated in 2019 with a public lecture at the Academy of Arts and Sciences, which Professor Bondzie Sampson, the Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA) delivered the first lecture.

Although the celebration also recognises the many unsung heroes who played important roles in the journey towards independence, six forbearers, who have been touted as “The Big Six” are highlighted as the “face” of the struggle.

The six are: Dr Kwame Nkrumah, J.B. Danquah, Emmanuel Obstsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori-Atta, Edward Akufo-Addo, and Ako Adjei.

The proponents of the Founders’ Day believe that August 4 is the most appropriate because it marks two important events in Ghana’s history- the formation of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society by John Mensah in 1897 and the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 by J. B. Danquah and George Alfred, also known as “Paa” Grant.

Activities for the day are also expected to encourage others to commit their lives to sacrifice for the nation.

President Nana Addo Dankwa-Akufo-Addo on Thursday morning posted a picture on his official Facebook page with the inscription: “Happy Founders’ Day.”

Many Ghanaians have since taken to social media to extend congratulatory messages to the country’s Founding Fathers.

Some political parties, including the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have since the institution of the Founders’ Day in 2019 opposed the move, expressing concerns that the celebration could erode the recognition of Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s achievements as the first President of the country.

Source: Ghana News Agency