“Becoming your own boss” – Second edition of #PatrioticSpaces takes place tonight

The second edition of the #PatrioticSpaces is expected to take place on Wednesday 10 August 2022 on Twitter at 8pm.

Hosted by Kow Essuman, the Legal counsel to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the much-talked about spaces will discuss the topic: “Becoming your own boss.”

A host of speakers including Kofi Ofosu Nkansah, CEO of NEIP, Yofi Grant, CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Council (GIPC), Akosua Manu, Deputy CEO of National Youth Authority (NYA), Kosi Yankey-Ayeh, CEO of Ghana Enterprise Agency and Sheila Bartels, MP for Ablekuma North are expected to share their experiences with the youth.

Over 1,200 participants tuned in to the maiden edition that was held last week to coincide with the Founders’ Day celebrations.

What you missed

The Minister of Information, Kojo Oppong Nkrumah reiterated the importance of 4 August in the history of Ghana in his submission at the maiden edition of #PatrioticSpaces.

According to him, it as a Remembrance Day for the fore bearers who fought and led Ghana’s independence struggle.

The virtual Twitter forum brought together people from all walks of life including academia, politicians, civil society organisations and the youth to brainstorm on Ghana’s Founders’ Day celebration.

The minister emphasised on the historical significance of 4 August as the day the Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was formed.

“August 4 has an important significance in Ghana’s history. The Aborigines Rights Protection Society was formed in Cape Coast on 4 August 1897,” Nkrumah said. “That’s the date that society was formed to start the entire process for our independence.”

“It was formed to resist the application and implementation of the law that sought to vest all lands in the British Crown as part of colonialisation agenda. The society mobilised chiefs and people in the Gold Coast to fight against it and forced the colonial power to stop the bill and the land tenure system of this country was preserved,” he said.

He added that incidentally 4 August was the day the founders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) met in Saltpond and birthed the country’s first political party.

“So, years after the formation of the Aborigines Rights Protection Society, we went forward and people like Paa Grant, Awoonor Williams, RS Blay, William Ofori-Atta, JB Danquah, Ako Adjei among others, all met in Saltpond to form the UGCC as the first political movement to fight British rule.

“It is important to note that in choosing the date, they were very aware of when the ARPS was formed and decided to meet on 4 August and formed the UGCC. So, that is why 4 August is actually to celebrate all our founders on this seminal date,” he added.

Kow Essuman, who moderated the spaces also added that the memorandum to the bill which was submitted to Parliament (Public Holidays Amendment bill) emphasised the roles the ARPS, the UGCC, paramount chiefs played in setting the ball rolling for the nation’s independence.

He said 4 August signifies “our recognition towards the founding of a free independent Ghana.”

The Executive director of the Danquah Institute (DI), Dr Antoinette Tsiboe-Darko, who was also a speaker on the Spaces, clarified the difference between 4 August and the celebration of 21 September, which is the birthday of Dr Kwame Nkrumah.

“We celebrate Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah on 21 September because he is the first president of Ghana. When it comes to those who contributed to the independence struggle, we are dedicating one day – 4 August – to recognise their contributions.

“It is important to put this day on the calendar to recount and reflect on the role these people contributed to our independence struggle,” she said.

For her part, the deputy NYA boss Akosua Manu (Kozie) called on the young generation to ascribe to the attributes of volunteerism.

Source: Daily Mail GH