Fifty-nine years ago today, Ghana suffered a grave injustice. A group of opportunists—misguided stooges and puppets of foreign interests—recklessly overthrew a legitimate government, derailing the country’s progress and plunging us into decades of stagnation and underdevelopment. That dark chapter in our history must serve as a reminder: no matter the justification, no coup d’état serves the interests of the people.
We must reject, in no uncertain terms, any form of illegitimate rule. Military regimes, in any shape or form, have no place in governance. The ECOWAS sub-region has, in recent years, seen the return of junta-led governments in Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Yet, as history has repeatedly shown, military rulers come to power with promises of salvation, only to reveal their true nature as oppressors. I have not lived under military rule, but I have read and listened to those who have—and all their stories cannot be lies.
It was shocking to witness cheers for the junta leader of Burkina Faso on the day of the inauguration of Ghana’s current President, John Dramani Mahama. Whatever motivated that applause, we must not allow it to be mistaken as an endorsement of military rule. Democracy, despite its flaws, remains the only legitimate path to governance.
The Afrobarometer Round 9 Survey highlights a crucial truth: while many citizens are dissatisfied with the performance of democratic governments, they still prefer democracy over authoritarian rule. This is not a rejection of democracy itself but a demand for it to work better for the people. The frustration we see among young people must not push us towards embracing military rule as an alternative—it must push us to demand more from our leaders.
It is deeply concerning to hear young, educated Africans argue that military rule is the best system for our continent. I vehemently disagree. The failures of elected leaders should never be an excuse for the military to seize power. The solution to bad governance is not dictatorship but a stronger, more accountable democratic system.
The coup of February 24, 1966, must serve as a lesson to all of us. Military takeovers always come with hidden agendas. They disguise themselves as saviors but eventually reveal their true colors, preying on the very people they claim to protect. The betrayal of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah by a group of selfish military and police officers, led by Emmanuel Kotoka, was an act of treachery that set Ghana back for generations.
It is unacceptable that Kotoka’s name has remained on our international airport for decades—a constant insult to Nkrumah’s legacy and to Ghana’s democratic principles. That is why I was pleased to read that the Convention People’s Party (CPP) and the Democracy Hub have filed a suit to challenge and remove his name.
“What fools they are…” to have committed such a national crime, yet still hold a place in our history.
I remain a firm believer in the sacrosanct ideologies of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah—the only political prophet who saw what others could not. His vision lives on, and his legacy will never die.
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Arthor: Justice Alor
