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Kofi Buah eulogizes Paa Grant’s contribution to the liberation struggle


  12 Février      28        Politics (18646),

   

Accra, February 12, GNA- Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr.Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has ask Ghanaians to allow the heroic role played by Mr George Alfred Grant, inspire them to  make sacrifices for the development of the nation.
He noted that the political career of Paa Grant was borne out of pure willingness to serve the nation and contribute to the liberation of fellow citizens from oppression.
To this end, he joined the Aborigenes Rights Protection Society (ARPS), an organization which sought to prevent indiscriminate  expropriation of African lands by European authorities/businessmen and campaigned against  the exclusion of qualified Africans from the colonial administration.
Mr Kofi Buah told the GNA in an interview following a statement he made in Parliament during the week.
He said as a member of the Legislative Council for Sekondi  in 1926,Paa Grant was instrumental in many developmental projects, including the introduction of street lighting projects and pipe-borne to Sekondi and Axim.
The MP said though the political epoch at the time impeded critics and intelligentsia membership to the council, nevertheless, it agitated Paa Grant to start the struggle for independence.
He said “Paa Grant was a renowned businessman and astute politician who  commenced his business career and apprenticeship as a messenger at age  17  and by 1914, assiduous Grant had learned enough and saved from his meager salary to start his firm George Grant & Company and thrived as a timber merchant, with a prosperous export business, at a time when the trade was subjugated by foreign companies – a feat which must motivate our youth to submit to learning and boldly take entrepreneurial initiatives especially in the wake of the teeming unemployment situation confronting our country today”.
Mr. Kofi Buah noted that “ Grant’s trade put him in a pole position to witness the unfair practices that both the indigenous workforce and local players in business suffered at the hands of the colonial authorities, he became more concerned about injustice against citizens of the then Gold Coast.
He said vexed with the growing injustice against natives of the Gold Coast and inspired by the increasing calls for new political direction, Mr Grant organised the famous meeting which was attended by Dr. J. B. Danquah and other national heroes; the outcome of  which  led to the formation of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) on 4th August 1947, intended to achieve self-government within the shortest possible time.
 The MP said considering the role money play in executing the agenda of every political organisation, it is worthy to note that as the President of the UGCC, Paa Grant made the first donation of 250 pounds as seed money to run the UGCC, while others including some members of the Big Six contributed between 25 and 50 pounds.
“The selflessness of Mr Grant also impelled him to provide money for the fare to repatriate the iconic Kwame Nkrumah to the Gold Coast to take up an appointment as the General Secretary of the UGCC after Nkrumah’s over a decade stay abroad.
He observed that Grant’s avid pursuit of political freedoms and civil liberties for his fellow citizens was not without adverse repercussions on his hitherto thriving business enterprise.
 The MP said though colonial authorities victimized him to the extent that logs bearing his company’s symbol were prevented from boarding any ship at the harbor, he had to resort to the expansion of his timber business locally to avert imminent collapse. “Nonetheless, Paa Grant persevered in his fight for political liberty for our dear nation”. Unsurprisingly, due to his unflinching commitment, he was known to many during the Gold Coast era as ‘the father of Gold Coast politics’.
“Today, the critical and inspirational role played by Paa Grant, the man from very humble beginnings in Nzema in the attainment of Ghana’s independence is well documented and appreciated by all.
MP Buah said it was, therefore, a worthy course to devote part of our time to reflect on his works and appreciate the man who did not only dedicate his time and resources but also sacrificed his flourishing timber business to engineer and support organizations and individuals including Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah who steered Gold Coast into independence.
Mr Kofi Buah entreated  all  Members of Parliament, and the Ghanaian citizenry at large to emulate the selfless and serving attitude of Paa Grant for the development of the dear nation.
He said  “the story of Ghana’s liberation struggle will never be complete and has never been if  Paa Grant’s vision and monetary contributions towards the Independence of the Gold Coast have not been duly honoured.”.
“It is a great tragedy that up until today, Paa Grant has never been prominently placed in the history books of Ghana. Grant, through his selflessness, nationalism, vision, and devotion to Gold Coast’s freedom from colonial rule is monumental”.
“He is the doyen of Ghana’s Independence and must be recognized and acknowledged as the father and financier of Gold Coast politics, and must have a place in Ghana’s political history », the MP reminded Ghanaians.

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