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Ghana Actors Guild re-enact Nkrumah's release from prison
Accra, Feb. 13, GNA - The Ghana Actors Guild (GAD) on
Tuesday re-enacted the release of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
from prison following his arrest on January 13, 1948 for
calling for positive action against the then colonial
government of the Gold Coast.
The play, written, produced and directed by Efo Kojo Mawugbe,
Artistic Director of the National Theatre, depicted events
in the run-up to Ghana's independence that led to the
arrest, trial and subsequent release of Dr. Nkrumah.
It was sponsored by the Ghana@50 Secretariat as part of the
Ghana at
50 celebrations. It was set at the James Town Mantse Agbonaa,
but the James
Fort was also used as the prison where Nkrumah was held.
The play, a masterpiece lasted for about an hour and really
brought
to life the struggle of the masses of Ghanaians at the time,
that led to
Ghana's independence.
The production made use of real police vans, handcuffs,
colonial police uniforms, real prisons officers and at least
two hundred actors who played
the masses that called for Nkrumah's release.
On the day of his arrest, Osagyefo Nkrumah, played by famous
Ghanaian actor, David Dontoh, flanked by Convention People's
Party leaders addressed a rally and his message was clear,
positive action and self-government now.
Just as he had gotten the crowd chanting "self government
now!" colonial police pounced on him in the podium with an
arrest warrant, handcuffed him and whisked him away amidst
tears and screams of "no, no..." by the people.
He was put into a waiting police van and driven off as the
people followed mourning and groaning for his immediate
release.
Later on, he was put before court. His case was number
0042/48, The Gold Coast Versus Francis Nwiah Kofi, alias
Kwame Nkrumah and the offence was that contrary to the
public order act 29 (18) 2b,c, d, e and f, he instigated the
peace loving people of the Gold Coast into positive action
that led to the destruction of public property.
Osagyefo Nkrumah pleaded not guilty but was held in police
custody for another day.
Apparently, before he was arrested, he had visited Mr. R. A.
Saloway, Colonial Secretary to the Governor General Gerald
Chrysie and told him that if their plea for a constitutional
assembly to determine the division of the country into
constituencies to prepare for subsequent elections
were not heeded, he would lead the people into positive
action.
Saloway had promised to draw the attention of the governor
and thereby called a meeting to discuss the matter on
January 8, 1948, but he went back on his promise and two
days before the meeting could come off, on January 6, 1948
the colonial government declared the positive action null
and void.
Osagyefo therefore, held the rally on January 13, 1948 and
asked all workers except the police, health workers and a
few others to go on immediate strike.
He was clear in his message that positive action did not
mean violence but rather the use of all legal means of
political agitation to break down the systemic walls of
imperialism.
Following his trial, he was held in custody for another day,
but the colonial government did not see any reason for
holding him any longer and released him on February 13, 1948
to a hero's welcome by cheering masses in white, who carried
him shoulder high, poured white powder on him and sung songs
of victory like "Nkrumah Show Boy, I want to see you, Kwame
Nkrumah show boy".
Osagyefo Nkrumah used that opportune moment to hold a rally
and promised the masses of his commitment to the fight for
independence and self-government now. He made reference to
the calls by the more conservative Ghanaian politicians for
self-government in the shortest possible time and called it
absolute nonsense.
In attendance was Dr. Paa Kwesi Ndoum, Minister of Public
Sector Reform and a leading member of the CPP as well as
some other leading members of the CPP.
Mr. Samuel Odoi, President of GAD told the GNA after the
play that GAD would also re-enact the February 28, 1948
shooting incident on February 28, 2007 between the National
Theatre and the Castle Junction, where the incident that led
to the death of Sergeant Adjetey occurred.
They would also re-enact the Independence of Ghana on March
5, 2007. Prior to that GAD would hold its awards night on
February 17, 2007 at the National Theatre.
GNA
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