Lawyer and historian, Yaw Anokye Frimpong, has disclosed that there is nothing like ‘The Big Six’ in Ghana’s history regarding the country’s struggle for independence.
He says the people who were described as such belonged to the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) who got arrested after the 1948 riots.
Speaking at a commemorative lecture organised by Onua TV’s morning show, ‘Maakye‘, on the occasion of Nkrumah’s 52nd memorial, the historian indicated that the 1948 riots which led to the shooting and killing of three ex-service men brought that phrase.
He explained that after the governor received the petition from the soldiers, they realised the handwriting was Nkrumah’s, making them draw a conclusion that the riot was orchestrated by the UGCC.
He said the petition had actually been drafted on the back of one of the officers on their way to the castle.
Following the protest, the four other leaders of the UGCC were arrested together with Nkrumah and Ebenezer Ako Adjei, who convinced the ex-service men with Nkrumah to go for their ex-gratia.
Reporting the arrest, Mr. Anokye said the dailies said “the big six leaders of the UGCC” have been arrested, leading into the coming of ‘The Big Six’, and not necessarily that all of them played a pivotal role in Ghana’s road to independence.
He said if there should be anything like ‘The Big Six’ pertaining to the independence of Ghana, the likes of Paa Grant, Gbedemah and others should have followed Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and not the leaders of the UGCC who got arrested because of Nkrumah’s handwriting.
The Big Six were Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah; Dr. Joseph Boakye (‘J.B.’) Danquah; Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey; Ebenezer Ako-Adjei; William Ofori Atta and Edward Akufo-Addo.
Nkrumah at the time was part of the UGCC with the five others before forming the CPP.
The three ex-servicemen whose shooting led to the 1948 riots were Sergeant Adjetey, Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey Lamptey.
Nkrumah’s 52nd memorial: Onua Maakye holds commemorative lecture for Ghana’s first President
