Ghana and the world celebrated the 117th birthday of its first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, with a call for African leaders to return to his founding ideals of intercontinental unity. The celebration, known as NkrumahFest, was held at Nkroful, the birthplace of Dr Nkrumah in the Western Region of Ghana. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including the Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional and President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kobina Nketsia V.
A renowned Pan-Africanist and Kenyan legal luminary, Prof. P.L.O. Lumumba, was the guest speaker at the event. He urged African leaders to heed Nkrumah's vision of a united Africa, saying 66 years after independence, the continent remained politically divided and economically colonized despite its enormous natural resource endowment. Prof. Lumumba described the situation as a betrayal of Nkrumah's vision and called for a reversal of the trend.
Prof. Lumumba described Nkrumah as one of the greatest Africans to have lived, saying his contribution to the liberation and dignity of Africa went far beyond his country of birth, Ghana. He recalled Nkrumah's advocacy for African unity, including his role in the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU), now the African Union, in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Nkrumah's vision for a united Africa remains relevant decades after his death.
The event, which started on Friday, saw the unveiling of a roundabout with the statue of Dr Nkrumah in the Ellembelle District in the Western Region. The convener of the event, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said Nkrumah's legacy should inspire renewed commitment to self-determination, Pan-Africanism, and shared prosperity, particularly among the younger generation.
During Nkrumah's regime, Ghana saw the establishment of major institutions of learning, infrastructure projects such as the Akosombo Dam, the Tema Harbour, the Adomi Bridge, and factories, among many other investments which could best be described as intergenerational. The country under Nkrumah's leadership made significant strides in education, infrastructure, and industry.
Prof. Lumumba also referenced Nkrumah's book "Africa Must Unite", saying it reflected his strong conviction that African countries needed to work together to protect their independence and sovereignty. He linked Nkrumah's Pan-African vision to the civil rights struggle in the US, saying Ghana became an important source of inspiration for leaders such as Martin Luther King Jr.
The celebration was attended by several notable figures, including Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the former running mate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the 2024 general election, Samia Nkrumah, the daughter of Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah, and Kwesi Pratt Jnr, a Pan-Africanist and veteran journalist. The event was a testament to Nkrumah's enduring legacy and his continued relevance in modern Africa.
Key points
- African leaders must heed Nkrumah's vision of a united continent to reverse the current trend of political division and economic colonization.
- Nkrumah's legacy continues to inspire renewed commitment to self-determination, Pan-Africanism, and shared prosperity.
- The celebration of Nkrumah's birthday serves as a reminder of the importance of African unity and the need for leaders to work together to protect the continent's independence and sovereignty.
