Emulate Resilience Of Founding Fathers – Dr. Boakye

Dr. Lawrence Boakye

 

Ghanaians have been urged to reflect and learn from the resilience of the country’s forebears who in spite of the challenges they faced in attaining independence continued in the restoration of patriotism and the establishment of the foundation of the country’s democracy.

Dr. Lawrence Boakye,  a senior lecturer  at the University of Ghana who made the call at the Danquah  Institute  Founders’ Day lecture  on the  theme, “African Nationalism: A road to Patriotism  and the attainment of  self-determination” said  individual freedoms  were intertwined with Patriotism,  hence the realization of this basic right without compulsion  would help in  addressing other national issues  such as dignity, justice and equity.

August 4 is an annual event celebrated to remember the founding fathers particularly the ‘big six’: George Alfred Grant, J.B. Danquah, R.A. Awoonor-Williams, Edward Akufo-Addo, Ebenezer Ako Adjei, and Kwame Nkrumah who worked to attain Ghana’s independence.

He said, “In our circumstances today, the only factor that can enkindle our passion to contribute magnanimously to the development and progress of our nation is our patriotic values. When we lack this quality, we throw our own destiny into chaos, dishonesty, apathy, and dismay, turning back our clock of development”.

Dr. Boakye  was however hopeful that though individuals and groups may not be learning from the  country’s founding fathers as expected in several decades in a bid to be self determined and adequately reliant “Africa has a future to achieve its aspirations with continuous engagement  with each other, political stability and the establishment of  social Institutions.

By Ebenezer K. Amponsah