We’re on track, but...— Akilagpa Sawyerr

Respected Ghanaian academic and jurist, Prof. Akilagpa Sawyerr, believes Ghana is on a sound track 58 years after independence, but admits several avoidable mistakes have been committed along the line.

“We have made several mistakes,” the Universities of Durham, London and Berkeley-trained lawyer told Accra-based Joy FM.

However, he admitted that as a human institution, Ghana has suffered some missteps.

According to Prof. Sawyerr, what had let Ghana down over the years was the politicisation of every issue.

“We look at things superficially and look at things” with partisan lenses, adding that Ghanaians did not do things as a united people.

He added: “My main worry - and with this the media must also be blamed - is the tendency to trivialise matters.”

Prof. Sawyerr said he was hopeful Ghana was on track, adding that unity would drive the country to achieve its set objectives.

The former British colony turned 58 yesterday – March 6, 2015 — and President John Mahama addressed a national parade at the Independence Square amid other social activities across the country.

History

On March 6, 1957, Ghana attained its independence, the first British colony in Africa to do so, with Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah as its first Prime Minister.

On July 1, 1960, it became a republic, with Kwame Nkrumah as its first President.

On February 24, 1966, the government of Dr Nkrumah was overthrown by the Ghana Armed Forces and the police, and the National Liberation Council (NLC) junta, headed by Lt General Joseph Arthur Ankrah, was formed to administer the country.

General Ankrah was removed from office in April 1969 and Lt General Akwasi Amankwa Afrifa became the Chairman of the NLC, which later formed a three-man Presidential Commission with General Afrifa as its Chairman.

The commission paved the way for a general election in 1969, which brought the Progress Party, with Dr Kofi Abrefa Busia as Prime Minister and Mr Edward Akufo-Addo as President, into power.

The Ghana Armed Forces again intervened in national politics on January 13, 1972 and Colonel (later General) Ignatius Kutu Acheampong became the Head of State and Chairman of the National Redemption Council (NRC).

The name NRC was later changed to the Supreme Military Council (SMC) but General Acheampong was replaced by General F.W.K. Akuffo in a palace coup in July 1978.

The SMC was overthrown on June 4, 1979 in a mass revolt by junior officers and men of the Ghana Armed Forces. Following the uprising, an Armed Forces Revolutionary Council (AFRC) was set up under the chairmanship of Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.

On September 24, 1979, the AFRC handed over power to the civilian administration of Dr Hilla Limann, leader of the People's National Party (PNP), which had won the elections.

In the wake of the continuing downward plunge of the country, the Limann administration was overthrown on December 31, 1981.