Founder's Day

Founders' Day is a national public holiday observed to commemorate the contributions of all the people, notably the "Big Six" who led the struggle for Ghana's independence. The Founder's Day was formerly called "Founder's Day" with the letter "S" appearing after an apostrophe and it was celebrated to earmark the achievements of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. Kwame Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and a member of the "Big Six". He was born on 21 September, hence, the "Founder's" Day celebration on 21 September in each year in honour of his participation in the Ghanaian movement for independence from British colonial rule. Other members of the "Big Six" were Edward Akufo-Addo, Joseph Boakye Danquah, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori Atta, and Ebenezer Ako-Adjei. There were several thoughts and realizations of the leaders of the Present President Akufo Addo's regime that other members of the "Big Six" who were part of the struggles for Ghana's independence must be honour as part of the celebration. Notably includes major assertions from former member and speaker of parliament, Aaron Mike Oquaye, citing the earlier celebrated founder’s day as palpably false. The name was changed from "Founder's Day" to "Founders' Day". Meaning that the word is plural to include other member of the "Big Six" as part of Ghana's "Founder's Day" celebration and in honour of them. History The Founders' Day (which was formerly spelt as 'Founder's Day') was observed in Ghana on 21 September in year each to mark the birthdate of Ghana's first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and in remembrance of the struggle for independence by Ghana's brave "Big Six" as the name implies. President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo upon assuming office and based on the call to celebrate other members of the "Big Six" proposed a legislation to Parliament to designate 4 August as a new date of the Founders' Day celebration, to widen the scope of the celebration to cover all people who played a key role in the liberation of the country. August 4th was apparently chosen as the substantive date to mark founders’ day to purposely mark two important days or events in the history of Ghana. Firstly, in August 4th 1897, Gold Coast Aborigines' Rights Protection Society led by John Mensah Sarbah was formed. Furthermore, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) was formed on August 4, 1947 by J.B. Danquah and George Alfred Paa Grant.