Ghana's Independence March 6, 1957 (historical film footage, article excerpts in English & In Pidgin English, & selected comments)

gemzyangel, Mar 10, 2013

...Music in this video

Song: Ghana Freedom

Artist: E.T Mensah & His Tempos Band

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Edited by Azizi Powell

This pancocojams post provides information about Ghana, West Africa's independence Day March 6, 1957.

This post also presents an excerpt in standard English article and an excerpt in Ghanaian Pidgin English about Ghana's Independence Day.

In addition, this post also showcases a YouTube video copy of a historical film footage about Ghana's Independence Day and presents selected comments from the discussion thread from that YouTube video.

The content of this post is presented for historical, cultural, and educational purposes.

All copyrights remain with their owners.

Thanks to all those who fought for Ghanaian indepence. Thanks to all those who are featured in this video and all those who are quoted in this post. Thanks also to the publisher of this video on YouTube. 
-snip-
Click __ for a pancocojams post about the song "Ghana Freedom" by E.T. Mensah.

Click the tags below for more pancocojams posts about Ghana.

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ARTICLE EXCERPTS ABOUT GHANA'S INDEPENDENCE

Excerpt #1
From https://nationaltoday.com/ghana-independence-day/#:~:text=Ghana%20Independence%20Day%20is%20celebrated,be%20observed%20as%20a%20holiday.

Ghana Independence Day is celebrated every year on March 6. It is a public holiday for the citizens of Ghana and also widely celebrated among Ghanaians living abroad. If March 6 falls on a weekend, the following Monday will also be observed as a holiday. Ghana Independence Day is also known as Ghana National Day. The celebrations commemorate Ghana’s independence from the United Kingdom in 1957. The day is celebrated in public office with carnivals, parades, and other events. Private citizens celebrate the day with music and food, and some may even hoist the national flag at home.

[…]

While the Portuguese had been the first to establish a settlement in the region, the allure of the local riches led to a struggle for control between many European nations. In 1874, Britain took control over parts of the country, and Ghana was renamed the British Gold Coast.

After being weakened by the efforts of World War II, Britain decided to reduce its colonies and the power they held around the world, including those in Africa. This desire was bolstered by a rising call for independence in the Gold Coast. In 1947, the United Gold Coast Convention (U.G.C.C.), a local political party founded by J. B. Danquah, called for “self-government within the shortest possible time” following the Gold Coast legislative elections.

In 1951, former Secretary-General of the U.G.C.C. and founder of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah won a majority in the Gold Coast legislative election. He was appointed the leader of the Gold Coast government in 1952, and the Gold Coast region declared its independence from the United Kingdom on March 6, 1957. Following their independence, the new country was established as the Nation of Ghana. Nkrumah went on to become the first Prime Minister of Ghana, and Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence from colonial powers.

[...]
 
GHANA INDEPENDENCE DAY FAQS

How did Ghana get its name?

The name was drawn from an ancient African empire that was once famous for its significant power, land, and wealth. Ghana means ‘strong warrior’ or ‘war chief,’ which was the title given to the kings of this ancient kingdom located in some parts of modern-day Mauritania, Senegal, and Mali. The country was given this name on the eve of its independence in 1957."...

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Excerpt #3
From https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kwame_Nkrumah
" Kwame Nkrumah PC (21 September 1909[1][a] – 27 April 1972) was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary. He was the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana, having led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957.[2] An influential advocate of Pan-Africanism, Nkrumah was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity and winner of the Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union in 1962.[3]

[...]

Nkrumah was hailed as the Osagyefo – which means "redeemer" in the Akan language."...
-snip-
From https://www.lexico.com/definition/osagyefo "Osagyefo: The title was bestowed on Nkrumah on becoming president."
-snip-
The honorary title "Osagyefo" that has been given to other esteemed Ghanaians. [See Google search] 

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Excerpt #4
From https://www.bbc.com/pidgin/world-60630155#:~:text=Ghana%20dey%20mark%20dia%2065,di%20United%20Kingdom%20for%201957. Ghana Independence Day 2022: 65th Independence day of Ghana as e happun March 6

6 March 2022
"Ghana dey mark dia 65 years independence anniversary on Sunday 6th March, 2022.

Di celebration na to remember Ghana independence from di United Kingdom for 1957.

Di West African kontri don declare public holiday on Monday.

"Working Together, Bouncing Back Together" be di theme of Ghana 65th Independence Anniversary.

President Nana Akufo-Addo plus big govment ogas and diplomats bin gada for Cape Coast Stadium to celebrate.

Dem use carnivals, parades, and oda events mark dia anniversary.

[…]

Different school pikins do match-past for Cape Coast Stadium on Sunday.

[…]

Di day also witness cultural display

[…]

President Akufo-Addo advise all Ghanaians not to run down di kontri at any given opportunity dem get for dia own interest."

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SELECTED COMMENTS FROM THE DISCUSSION THREAD FOR THIS EMBEDDED YOUTUBE VIDEO
From https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOEdJDdz690

These comments are given in chronological order, except for replies. Numbers are added for referencing purposes only. 

DISCLAIMER: These comments are the opinions of those who wrote them and not necessarily, the opinions of the editor of this pancocojams blog.

1. Peter Mfinanga, 2016
"great moment in African history..."

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2. Greg Parbey, 2016

"Kwame Nkrumah was a very good president. But why would  the British come and rule over Ghana?"

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Reply 
3. Mattkrewe, 2017

"imperialism"

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Reply
4. Bethany Davidson, 2020
"Greg Parbey to steal the many resources here - gold, bauxite, diamonds, oil, and, for a time, human beings. Money and power are usually at the root of this kind of evil.

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5. Modinbi Kailey, 2016
"Toils of the brave and the sweat of their labor have so far being in vain. my heart still bleeds for Ghana because we still haven't proven to be capable of managing our own affairs 😔

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Reply
6. Obiri Agyirifo, 2021
"It's sad 😔"

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7. Ama Danquah, 2016
"THE NARATOR SAYS BLACK AFRICA, WHAT DOES SHE MEAN BY THAT?"

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Reply
8. Herman Kailey, 2016
"+Ama Danquah yeah, Ghana was the first African state to become independent that was entirely run by the African natives. There were other independent states at the time but they were under European control. So when they say Black Africa, they are referring to the regions other than the ones run by Europeans."

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9. L-GUN, 2017
"This man saw a world where Africans banded as one Nation or more or less democratic black empire. While noble i'm not sure how practical this is"

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Reply
10. william Aggrey-Orleans, 2018
"The world powers sensing the threat such an idea will be to their collective interests did everything to thwart it.."

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Reply
11. MubarakStayBless Mohammed, 2018
"A huge loss to Afrika. Dr KWAME NKRUMAH"

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12. mega at oh, 2019
"it's funny how the british lied at the beginning that "it was a peaceful handover""

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13. Kodwo Ampiah-Bonney, 2019
"Nkrumah would be crying if he saw Africa now"

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Reply
14. Faisal Mohammed, 2019
"You're right my friend"

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Reply
15. Kodwo Ampiah-Bonney, 2020
"Danielle Donkor tears of sadness. Progress is being done as we speak but many internal and external setbacks are preventing Africa from moving up"

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Reply
16. NkrumahTure, 2021
"I concur.  But he left us a blue print for the restoration of the Afrikan continent in his book, Handbook of Revolútionary Warfare. If you haven't studied it I highly recommend that you do. In that book  are the solutions to Afrika's political, and economic problems. Also, it must be followed up with Nkrumah's book Consciencism, philosophy and ideology for de-colonization. The philosophical and ideological basis for continental unification rests in that book.

If we're serious we will take our direction from Nkrumah through those writings and some others too, like Africa Must Unite. So, Osageyfo does speak to us through his words, all we have to is follow them to the letter and we will win."

**
17. TrustNoOne, 2017
"Ghana 🇬🇭 our beloved country 🌍

Is free forever 💫✨🔥

So proud to be a Ghanaian 🙋🏾‍♀️✌🏽🙌🏾

God bless our (Home Land Ghana 🇬🇭 )"

**
18. Leticia Agyemang, 2018
"I'm proud to be a Ghanaian. Ghana, we will make you proud. The future is still bright😍"

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19. YaGurl RappingQueen, 2018
"God bless our homeland Ghana

And make our nation great and strong

Bold to defend forever

HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!"

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20. Pi. Ey. Be., 2019
"FREEDOM SHOUDNT BE A GIFT IT IS A RIGHT, AND IF IT IS NOT BEEN GIVING FIGHT FOR IT. GHANA IS FREEDOM❤✊🏾"

**
21. Laurencia Adomaa, 2020
"❤️❤️"

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