June 4 Uprising And It’s Significance

I wrote an article titled “June 4 The Awakening of Ghana” which Ghanaweb
published both in June 2006 and 2007. It was widely discussed and many comments
made to it on the forum which usually as we all know was between those in support of
or against it. There were also many others who wrote personal emails to me. I
appreciate very much and wants to thank all those who made time to write to me here
again even though I did so in replies to them at the time. There was one particular
writer I did cherish very much. She was then a student working on her thesis and
decided to probe into the June 4 uprising for her degree.

She wrote asking if I could explain to her; 'How can June 4th Uprising Be Considered
Significant In Meeting The Aims Of The Revolt’?
It took me no time to understand her question because those who did not see how it
was before the day when those soldiers resorted to arms to correct the wrongs in our
society will always buy politics into the June 4 uprising and try as much as
they can to discredit it. However, the truth shall always remain that June
4 played a significant role in uplifting our great nation.
Significantly in the sense that, apart from Ghana's Independence Day of 6th March
1957, June 4 1979 uprising was the second most important Historical event that we
Ghanaians can pride on. Nkrumah's “Independence Now” slogan enlightened the Gold
Coasters to understand the importance of freedom and self rule. So also was the June
4 uprising which awakened Ghanaians to understand how to hold leaders
accountable for their misdeeds. It was very significant in many ways for June 4 to
come into being. Below are some few reasons of the significances.

1. Between 1948 and 1957, Ghanaians, then Gold Coasters, agitated or propagated for
Freedom, in its sense Self Rule. After attaining independence all was left to our
leaders to showcase the freedom accompanying the Self Rule. However, as Ghanaians
are and always will be the hard nuts to crack, misunderstandings brought
strong opposition among the leaders during the period of transition. We knew very
well how the misfortunes of those hard line opposition led to the termination of
that very first Government on February 24 1966. After that event, Ghana was not able
to have a stable, viable and a nationally workable form of Government until now. The
NLC (National Liberation Council) ruled for about three years, handed power over to
an elected Government. That civilian administration ruled for just about 27 months
only for the Soldiers to strike again on January 13 1972. The new Administrators
code named NRC (National Redemption Council) was nothing
more than some disillusioned soldiers wanting power and fame. However, to be true,
the first three years of NRC rule was one of the best periods Ghana had as a nation
in food sufficiency and national pride through OFY (Operation Feed Yourself). The
acceptance that came with their good settings made their big heads more swollen.
Things took other turns in the course of time. In the preceding two years, ordinary
citizens became the vast exploits of the system called Kalabule. Ghanaians were
reduced to the status of mere people (slaves) in their own land and being ripped off
with nothing to say. Power rose to the market women who even had the dictates to
slap a soldier openly in a crowded market. There were no laws guiding the nation
except that one has access to some influential persons up there. Traders became the
power block in the country that if one can maneuver to some point, he/she would have
everything without a sweat.
Kalabule the common name associated with CORRUPTION was all that we could talk
about. No one really knew or thought of what to do to bring the worrisome system
down.
The NRC Administration had the most planned coups against it in our Political
History but as strong as the leader was, all attempts to unseat it was fruitless.
The best that happened was an internal changes made in the council which was and
referred to as a Palace Coup.

2. There were some relieves when those changes were made and announced. Promises
were also made to hand over to an elected civilian Government in due course. We all
knew that, the problems then in place will continue if nothing was done to stop
it. The thoughts were that the Government to come will be strong enough to put an
end to all the rotten system but no one was actually counting on it.

3. The Question:
“How Can June 4 Uprising Be Considered Significant In Meeting The Aims Of The
Revolt?”

Answer:
A. June 4 achieved a lot for Ghana of which we should be proud of. Significantly, it
awakened us from the slumber we were in to understand that our elected leaders are
servants to the people who elected them to public offices but not for them (leaders)
to be lords over the citizens as it was before the day.
B. That we can always question those leaders without fear or favor.
C. That State Properties are for all and not just some few greedy individuals
D. We all should be vigilant to protect the interest of the State rather than
succumb to the demand of our leaders.
E. The most significance of June 4 Uprising was the House Cleaning Campaign. It
brought to light how few individuals siphoned thousands if not millions of cedis to
their private accounts both at home and overseas. We knew also how businesses
refused to pay due taxes to Government without regard to the law. It also made us
aware how to sacrifice in the present for the future. That everybody is responsible
for any mess that goes around him/her without questioning.
Furthermore, corruption in the Armed Forces and other high places was purged to the
very least for the military to regain respect. Ghana before June 4 was a garbage
truck being stared and laughed at in all the four corners of the world but today
Ghanaians can walk chest high wherever they go. June 4 1979 made it possible.

Finally, June 4 was a necessary bitter pill prescribed by those gallant boys that as
many the filth which was brought on Ghana could be cleansed and for it to remain a
watch dog to guide us as a nation.
Long Live The Revolution

Habel Awuku Dadoto
Japan
hawuda@yahoo.com