Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu
The Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has called on the newly established 13-member curriculum review committee to address the longstanding confusion over who truly founded Ghana.
Speaking at the committee’s recent inauguration, he expressed concern that, 68 years after independence, the country still lacks consensus on its founding history.
“Anyone who abandons their past and history loses their way to the future. I’m told this is why we must be intentional about how we teach our children about Ghana’s rich and complex history. So, I’m at a loss that at 68 years, we are still grappling with who the founders of Ghana are, who the founding leader is, or who the founding father was,” he said.
He continued, “This must be a settled matter. In every country, there are founding fathers. It is reasonable to conclude that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is a founding leader of Ghana. But if, at this age, we still have children asking their parents, ‘Who is the founder of Ghana?’ or ‘Who are the founders of Ghana?’ then there’s a problem.”
Iddrisu stressed the importance of giving children a clear understanding of the nation’s origins.
“At six to eight years old, you shouldn’t be asking who birthed you as a country. I’m sure many of those currently instigating this debate were themselves students of history. Your review of the curriculum must put an end to this issue.”
“I don’t want Ghanaian children to grow up not knowing who their founding fathers were or who their foundational leader was. I expect your review to settle this debate once and for all,” he added.
The controversy resurfaced following an address by former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Founder’s Day, during which he dismissed the idea that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was solely responsible for Ghana’s independence.
“I speak to you this evening rejecting completely the notion that Ghana was founded by one man. While Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to our independence are undeniable, it is important to acknowledge that the struggle for our nation’s freedom was a collective effort spanning several generations,” Akufo-Addo stated.
His remarks reignited debate, with many questioning the extent of Nkrumah’s role in Ghana’s independence and whether other key figures deserve greater recognition.
JKB/MA
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