The Big six
THE RULING New Patriotic Party (NPP) has commemorated the 71st Anniversary of the first ever political party in Ghana (then Gold Coast), the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).
Saturday, August 4, 2018, marked exactly the 71 years of the formation of Ghana’s first political party.
It was UGCC that spearheaded the social agitation that culminated in Ghana’s independence in 1957.
Founded by Joseph Boakye Danquah on August 4, 1947, and led by Paa Grant, the aim of UGCC was to bring about Ghana’s independence from its colonial masters, the British, after the Second World War.
As part of activities earmarked to commemorate the 71st Anniversary of the UGCC, NPP which holds its heritage to the UGCC, held an interdenominational thanksgiving and memorial service at the Central Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) in Cape Coast on Saturday.
A statement issued and signed by the General Secretary of the NPP, John Boadu, said, “As the nation commemorates this historic day, the NPP, which is the “descendant party” of the UGCC, is pleased to extend goodwill message, first of all, to all compatriots in the Dombo-Danquah-Busia political tradition and to the rest of the nation.”
It added that “the party also wishes to, on this momentous occasion, extol the legendary virtues of the forebears of our independence struggle including J.B. Danquah, Paa Grant, R.S Blay, K.B. Teko, Councilor Richard Akwei, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, Quist Therson, Joe Myers, Councilor G.N. Alema, Solomon Odamtten, Dr. J.E. Armah, Hon. Akilakpa Sawyer, Hon. Edward Akufo-Addo, Oheneba Sakyi Djan, Councilor E.A. Bossman, Hon. N.A. Ollenu, Enoch Mensah, Dr. F.V. Nanka Bruce, Q. Tagoe, E.C.A. Quarshie, V.B. Annan, William Ofori-Atta, Oheneba Sakyi Djan, Ben A. Tamakloe and Hon. Obetsebi Lamptey, among others, all of whom are the key architects of Ghana’s independence struggle.”
According to the statement, it was “interesting that the commemoration of the 71st Anniversary of the founding of the United Gold Coast Convention is happening at a time we have one of the finest proponents of the UGCC political tradition, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, as the President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.”
It added that not only that, his government has also, by far, demonstrated the strongest commitment to the ‘UGCC Project’, anchored on good governance and the delivery of prosperity in all facets of life to the Ghanaian people.
Meanwhile, the ruling party has seized the opportunity to “call on Ghanaians to, at all times, exude high spirit of patriotism and nationalism, hard work and dedication, adherence to rule of law and democratic principles, freedom and liberty, commitment to duty and unwavering love for country, which were the very ideals underpinning the founding of the UGCC and for that matter the NPP.”
BY Melvin Tarlue