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The following historical paragraphs are noted here to remind future generations that Ghanaians must be united at all times and strive for peace, for Ghana went to the brink of civil war and disaster, but saved by NANA EKUMFI AMEYAW of Takyiman and the BONO KYEMPEM who will forever remain heroes of our nation. Long Live Ghana! Long Live Ghanaian Freedom. 1. Immediately after the CPP won a decisive victory (72 out of 104 seats) in the 1954 general election, the Opposition demonstrated their undemocratic tendencies and led by Dr Busia went on an offensive agitating for a federal form of government. 2. The CPP continued to demonstrate its belief in one Ghana and unity of all Ghanaians, when four members of the Legislative Assembly invited Prof. Busia and other leaders of the NLM to discuss the federation matter at a roundtable conference. But they turned down the invitation saying that it did not come from the government. Nkrumah then sent two separate official (government) invitations to them, and they turned down both invites. 3. Amidst the firing of muskets and the singing of songs , Bafour Osei Akoto, led a ritual slaughter of a sheep to signify the birth of the National Liberation Movement (NLM), of which Busia became its political leader. Ghana’s anticipated independence in 1956 as promised by the constitution was thus halted by the birth of the NLM . 4. The NLM continued to show its hatred for the democracy being nurtured in Ghana when on April 5, 1955, led by Busia and Modesto Apaloo walked out of the Assembly, just after a Motion on a Select Committee to examine the whole question of the federal system of government had been seconded. In their opinion, the Select Committee, comprising some CPP parliamentarians or the homeless tramp and jackals (Liberator, March 1956), was incompetent to deal with national matters. 5. Various acts of violence engulfed the country including the bombing on November 10, 1955, of Kwame Nkrumah’s residence. Busia’s NLM was clearly prepared to use violence to achieve their aims rather than the ballot box. 6. On the day that the CPP’s regional office was re-opened in Kumasi after fourteen months of closure, Prof. Busia’s NLM drove a jeep past the crowd and fired shots into it and wounded several people; and killed a pregnant woman. |