Why Is Busia Forgotten? NPP Losing Its Identity – Obiri Boahen Criticizes Party for Ignoring January 13 Coup Anniversary
NPP Stalwart Laments Lack of Recognition for Busia’s Legacy and Calls for Reflection on Party’s Historical Identity
- Lawyer Obiri Boahen criticized the NPP for failing to commemorate the January 13, 1972 coup that ousted Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia
- He praised the CPP and NDC for consistently honoring their historical milestones
- He warned that the party’s identity and legacy are fading
Lawyer Nana Obiri Boahen, a leading member of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), has expressed concerns about the party’s consistent failure to commemorate the 1972 coup that ousted Prime Minister Dr. Kofi Abrefa Busia.
Speaking in an interview, he noted that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) regularly marks the February 24 coup that overthrew Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, while the National Democratic Congress (NDC) annually commemorates the December 31 coup led by Flt. Lt. Jerry John Rawlings.
He questioned why the NPP, a party rooted in the Danquah-Busia-Dombo tradition, appears indifferent to marking an event that significantly altered the course of Busia’s administration.
“Why don’t we do something on January 13? If we celebrate it, it will help people know who Dr. Busia was. The CPP marks the February 24 coup on Kwame Nkrumah, and the NDC marks the May uprising, June 4 coup, and the December 31 coup. What about the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition? Even I am the one who has been propagating the Danquah-Dombo-Busia tradition,” he said.
He recalled that on March 8, 1972, the late Professor Adu Boahen, during a lecture, remarked that Busia’s overthrow was unjustifiable, whereas Nkrumah’s was deemed understandable.
Nana Obiri Boahen argued that this neglect diminishes the legacy of Busia’s leadership and creates an impression of selective reverence for historical events within the party.
He called on the NPP leadership to reflect on this omission and consider honoring the memory of Dr. Busia and the impact of his policies on Ghana’s democracy. According to him, doing so would reinforce the party’s ideological foundations and preserve its historical narrative.
“It is so painful that the tradition is not recognizing its past leaders. I feel so sad. Some people in the NPP who have served as high commissioners, ministers, and chief executives know nothing about Busia’s overthrow. Why does the CPP commemorate its events, even though it has no parliamentary seat and low electoral votes? They do it annually, and I doff my hat to them,” he said.
He revealed that during his tenure as the party’s Deputy General Secretary, there were plans to establish a school to teach the NPP’s traditions, but it never materialized.
Lawyer Nana Obiri Boahen lamented that the identity of the NPP is fading.
“The identity of the NPP is getting lost. Who is Jato Kaleo? Who is Paa Grant? who is Baffour Akoto? Who is B.F. Kusi? Who is R.M. Amponsah? Who is Edward Akufo-Addo? Who is J.A. Kufuor? Who is Professor Adu Boahen? Who is Victor Owusu? Who is B.J. da Rocha? Who is Baah Wiredu? Who is Ben Adamah? Who is Alhaji Yeremiah? Who is Abayifa Karbo? People died for this party, and they must be honored,” he said.
