Ghana’s independence on March 6, 1957, was more than just a political victory ,it was a turning point for Africa, proving that colonial rule could be overthrown. But behind the celebrations, one debate has refused to die: Who truly deserves the credit?
For many, Kwame Nkrumah is the ultimate independence hero. His fiery speeches, relentless activism, and bold leadership made him the face of Ghana’s freedom struggle. But others argue that the Big Six J.B. Danquah, Edward Akufo-Addo, Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey, William Ofori Atta, Ebenezer Ako-Adjei, and even Nkrumah himself, were the real masterminds behind Ghana’s liberation. They took the first risks, challenged colonial rule when it was still unthinkable, and paved the way for the movement that Nkrumah later took to the finish line.
So, who truly owns Ghana’s independence? Is Nkrumah the lone champion, or was he simply the final player in a game started by others?
There is no denying that Nkrumah’s role was monumental. When he returned to the Gold Coast in 1947, he joined the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) as its General Secretary. But Nkrumah was never one for slow politics. While the UGCC wanted to negotiate independence gradually, he was all about immediate action. In 1949, he split from the UGCC and formed the Convention People’s Party (CPP), rallying farmers, workers, and the youth to demand freedom not next year, not in ten years, but NOW. His Positive Action campaign ,strikes, protests, and civil disobedience forced the British to take notice.
Even when he was arrested in 1950, his influence only grew stronger. The CPP won the 1951 elections while he was still behind bars, making it clear that Nkrumah wasn’t just a leader he was a movement. Upon his release, he became Prime Minister in 1952, then led Ghana to full independence in 1957, and eventually became the nation’s first President in 1960. And of course, it was his voice that rang out on that historic day: “Ghana, your beloved country, is free forever!”
That moment cemented Nkrumah as the face of Ghana’s independence. But was he truly the one who started it all?
The Big Six might have a different story to tell. Ghana’s fight for freedom didn’t begin with Nkrumah,it started much earlier, in 1947, when these six political pioneers formed the UGCC. While others were afraid to challenge British rule, they were the first to stand up and demand self-governance. They risked everything, and in 1948, their activism led to their arrest after the Accra Riots, which erupted following the killing of unarmed Ghanaian ex-servicemen protesting for their pensions. This event shook the entire country, fueling the flames of anti-colonial resistance.
And here’s a twist,without the Big Six, there might not have even been a “Kwame Nkrumah” in Ghanaian politics. It was Ebenezer Ako-Adjeiwho first suggested that Nkrumah be invited back from the UK to help the UGCC. Without that invitation, Nkrumah may have never been in the right place at the right time to lead the final push for independence.
While Nkrumah took the movement to the finish line, the Big Six were the ones who started the race. They built the political foundation, challenged colonial rule when few dared, and paid the price for their activism. Without their efforts, there might have been no UGCC, no independence movement, and no stage for Nkrumah to shine.
So, who truly owns Ghana’s independence? The bold revolutionary who turned independence into reality, or the pioneers who laid the foundation?
Nkrumah was the unstoppable force, but the Big Six were the spark that ignited the fire. History is never the story of just one person ,it’s a chain reaction of sacrifices, leadership, and persistence. The fight for Ghana’s freedom was a relay race, and while the Big Six ran the first laps, it was Nkrumah who grabbed the baton and crossed the finish line.
One thing is clear, without both Nkrumah and the Big Six, Ghana’s path to independence would not have been the same. The debate over who deserves the most credit will continue, but perhaps it’s time to stop choosing sides and start recognizing that history was made by all of them.
So, what do you think? Was Nkrumah the true champion, or do the Big Six deserve just as much recognition
