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