Dr. Yaw Anokye Frimpong, a historian and lawyer, has criticized President Nana Akufo-Addo for exhibiting tribal sentiments in his nationwide address on the country’s Founders’ Day celebration.
According to Dr. Frimpong, the President deliberately omitted the contributions of Paa Grant, a key figure in the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), due to his Nzema heritage.
Dr. Frimpong made these remarks during an interview on the Ghana Yensom morning show, co-hosted by Otafrigya Kaayire Kwesi Appea-Apreku and Odehyeeba Kofi Essuman, on Accra 100.5 FM on Wednesday, August 7, 2024.
He highlighted that Paa Grant played a significant role as the Chairman and financier of the UGCC, with R.S. Blay serving as his Vice-Chairman, and J.B. Danquah as the second Vice-Chairman overseeing the Eastern Region.
Dr. Frimpong accused President Akufo-Addo of consistently highlighting his uncle, J.B. Danquah, as a pivotal figure in the UGCC while neglecting the contributions of Paa Grant and R.S. Blay.
He claimed the President’s bias stems from the fact that Grant and Blay were not Akyems, from the President’s tribe.
“If any of the two, Paa Grant or R.S. Blay, who played key roles in the activities of the UGCC, were from his tribe, the President would have hurriedly mentioned them to advance his arguments,” Dr. Frimpong stated.
He argued that President Akufo-Addo’s actions are part of a broader pattern of promoting his own tribal group at the expense of others.
Dr. Frimpong also pointed out that the President’s consistent focus on his tribe’s contributions has been detrimental to recognizing the diverse efforts of all who contributed to Ghana’s independence.
He believes that such actions undermine national unity and fail to honour the collective struggle for freedom.
