Remembering March 6, 1957

At the time of Ghana’s attainment of nationhood 58 years ago, I was only 12-years-old. I was in primary six, which we called standard three in those days, at the Salvation Army Primary School at AshTown, in Kumasi.

I must confess that during this period, the atmosphere was filled with freedom everywhere. Most of us, especially children like me, did not, however, know what was going on. We could sniff that something of monumental importance was going to take place but we did not know what it was all about.

We were hearing about the politicians. The elders were talking about Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Dr J.B. Danquah, Dr K.A. Busia, Krobo Edusei, Joe Appiah, Asafu Adjei and Baffour Osei Akoto but nothing sank into our infant heads.

We were also hearing about the Convention People Party (CPP), National Liberation Movement (NLM), Matemeho, Muslim Association Party (MAP) and later United Party (UP) but we did not know what they were about. The elders were always attending rallies at Subin Valley, Dunkirk, Abbeys Park and other places. We only heard but we could not comprehend.

At that time, we did not know Kwame Nkrumah had won the election of 1951, a year before we entered primary school, to become the Leader of  Government Business. We did not know that there were even elections in 1954 and 1956 that were to lead to independence on March 6, 1957.

But we were aware of some of the violence that took place in those days, especially in Kumasi involving supporters of CPP and NLM and its allies.

Our school, the Salvation Army Primary, was in the heart of AshTown, about 300 metres from the residence of Baffour Osei Akoto, the chief linguist of the Asantehene and a king pin of the NLM. The area around our school was always kept boiling with bottle-throwing Action Troopers of the NLM facing CPP thugs in pitch battles.

During this period, we heard about the stabbing of one Baffoe, an NLM supporter whom we learnt had crossed over from the CPP. He was killed by Twumasi-Ankrah of the CPP who was later hanged.

Kidnap

There was also the kidnapping of our Head teacher, Master Kofi Boadi, around this time, may be in 1956, His offence was that he had caned the daughter of an Action Trooper. The girl went home to report the case to the father who invaded our school the following day with his thugs and took away our head teacher. 

Master Boadi was in captivity for about a week and when he came back, he never used the cane on anybody again. It was a big relief for us the pupils.

As a result of the violence, there were occasions we could not go to school. Anytime our parents heard of clashes on the way to our school, we were prevented from going to school.

All this while, we could not comprehend what was in the offing for the Gold Coast which some had started calling Ghana.

We, the children did not understand what it meant to be free as a people. All that we were told was that the English people were about to leave the Gold Coast and go back to their country.

Then all of a sudden, there was some calm as Independence Day approached. We entered primary six in January 1957. Those were the days when the academic year started in January and ended in December.

So there was less than three months left for Independence Day, the day of freedom on March 6, 1957, when schools re-opened. Unfortunately, those of us in primary school were not part of the parade that was to be held at the Prince of Wales Park at Kejetia to usher in a new dawn for a new Ghana.  

Only a selected group from the middle schools was drafted to go for rehearsals. Prince of Wales Park was just a small portion of the Kejetia terminal that was reserved for ceremonial occasions. 

Freedom

At home, in our Allabar area, there was excitement as the elderly ones prepared for the day of freedom. Nobody was talking of independence but freedom.

Those who belonged to the CPP were in very high spirits. People were buying CPP clothes and sewing deferent dresses for Freedom Day. My mother belonged to a group of young women who were die hard supporters of CPP. She had CPP posters of the cockered pasted everywhere in our room.

My father did not object to what my mother was doing. He had sympathies for the CPP and was a great admirer of Kwame Nkrumah, I got to know later. But being a Moslem cleric, he tried to identify with the (MAP).

About a week to Independence Day, there was a distribution of independence cups to all pupils in all primary and middle schools in Kumasi. The event created stampede in most of the schools.

It was just like in 1953 when I was in primary two and colonial authorities brought cups for distribution in primary and middle schools to commemorate the ascension to the British throne of Queen Elizabeth II. 

As preparation for freedom day went ahead, my mother bought me a piece of the CPP cloth to sew two shirts for my use. I took the cloth to a tailor at the Central Market and he gave me time to collect.

I went to collect one of the shirts on March 5, 1957 to wear for the parade at Prince of Wales Park which was not too far away from my house.

The parade

On Independence Day, I woke up early, had my bath and took my breakfast. I put on my CPP shirt and left home at about 8 a.m. As I came out and walked down to go to Kejetia through Dr Mensah, I saw a number of CPP supporters blowing their whistle almost running. I didn’t join them. I decided to go at my own pace.

Then at the intersection where the road led northwards to Manhyia and southwards to Kejetia, I saw a small crowd at the NLM office across the road and adjacent to Apagyafie. In no time, I realised somebody had lifted me up and asked me why I was in CPP shirt. 

Since the place was not far from my house, there were many people who knew me and came to my aid. They rescued me from the NLM thugs and asked me to go my way.

I did not understand what was going on but I continued to the Prince of Wales Park where I got a good place to stand and watch proceedings. I saw middle school pupils from different schools. I saw government officials. Then I saw the Ashanti Regional Commissioner, Mr de Craft Dickson who took the salute. It was indeed a memorable occasion, especially the march-past of schoolchildren.

The parade lasted for about four hours. At the end, it was announced a selected group of children were to go to the Residency where they were to be entertained by the regional commissioner. It was not until the following year when I was in Middle Form One that I had the opportunity to also attend the independence reception at the Residency.

Meanwhile, after the parade on March 6, 1957, the various groups went on a procession through the principal streets of Kumasi. I rushed home to meet the procession at Allabar.

It was indeed a sight to behold. There was no space for any vehicle, just human beings who filled every available space on the Allabar high way. This time, there were no schoolchildren but adults led by brass bands.

There were various masquerade groups, with some displaying their skills on their stilts. There were also ex-servicemen in their military uniforms displaying many medals won for their bravery during the Second World War.

As the brass bands provided the music, what filled the air were shouts of freedom.

However, it was a happy moment for every Ghanaian that day in Kumasi. There was no violence. The procession continued till late in the evening when people dispersed to go to their homes, still shouting freedom.

Yes, on March 6, 1957, a new nation was born on this earth that was to blaze the trail that led to the emancipation of a whole continent. Happy Anniversary.