President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to reflect on Dr Nkrumah’s decisive contribution to Ghana’s independence struggle and his wider campaign for African unity and self-determination. In a message issued on Monday, September 21, 2026, President Mahama said the national commemoration offered Ghanaians both at home and abroad an important occasion to honor Dr Nkrumah’s legacy. He said Dr Nkrumah’s dedication to liberty, Pan-African unity and self-reliance helped establish Ghana as a symbol of hope and possibility on the international stage.
President Mahama further maintained that Nkrumah’s conviction that Africans possessed the capacity to determine and manage their own affairs remained relevant to Ghana’s national identity and aspirations. According to the President, Founder’s Day should provide more than an opportunity to remember the historical achievements of Ghana’s first President. He said the occasion should also encourage citizens to consider the responsibilities that continue to accompany the country’s nation-building process.
President Mahama said Nkrumah’s leadership was central to Ghana’s attainment of political independence in 1957, but added that the broader objective of creating a prosperous, equitable and resilient society remained an unfinished national responsibility. He consequently appealed to Ghanaians to translate the values associated with Nkrumah’s leadership into practical efforts aimed at advancing national development.
The President also connected Nkrumah’s historic campaign for political independence with the contemporary pursuit of economic advancement and social development. He said the responsibility of present generations was to build upon the foundations created during the independence struggle and work collectively towards a country capable of providing greater prosperity and fairness for its citizens.
The 2026 Founder’s Day observance is particularly significant because September 21 has been restored as the statutory Founder’s Day following Parliament’s 2025 amendment of Ghana’s public holidays legislation. The Ministry of the Interior confirmed September 21, 2026, as a statutory public holiday nationwide. The date also marks the 117th anniversary of Dr Nkrumah’s birth.
Professor Samuel Ntewusu, Director of African Studies at the University of Ghana, has called for a critical examination of Nkrumah’s policies and ideas so that aspects considered relevant can inform contemporary national and continental development. President Mahama’s Founder’s Day message therefore places emphasis not only on remembering Ghana’s first President but also on applying lessons from the independence era to the country’s continuing pursuit of national development, economic self-reliance and social justice.
As Ghanaians commemorate Dr Nkrumah’s 117th birthday, the occasion has also prompted renewed discussion about the relevance of his development philosophy to present-day challenges. President Mahama urged citizens to rise above division, demonstrate selfless patriotism and work towards economic freedom and social justice.
Key points
- President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to draw inspiration from the vision, principles and enduring legacy of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
- The 2026 Founder’s Day observance is particularly significant because September 21 has been restored as the statutory Founder’s Day following Parliament’s 2025 amendment of Ghana’s public holidays legislation.
- Professor Samuel Ntewusu, Director of African Studies at the University of Ghana, has called for a critical examination of Nkrumah’s policies and ideas.
