The Center for National Interest and Research (CNIR) and the Centenary Agenda Secretariat, Ghana, have launched the National Heroes Project in Accra. This initiative aims to identify, honour and immortalise individuals who contributed significantly to Ghana's political, economic and social development. The project is considered particularly important as Ghana prepares for its centenary anniversary in 2057.
Engr. Dr Dzabaku Kudiabor Ocansey, Executive Director of CNIR and President of the Centenary Agenda Secretariat, stated that the project seeks to reconnect Ghana with its history and draw lessons from the sacrifices, innovations and values of people who contributed to the nation's development. He noted that Ghana's development challenges cannot be addressed effectively if the country continues to overlook the contributions of its historical figures and the values that guided them.
The National Heroes Project will identify and honour individuals who have made significant contributions to Ghana's development, including Tetteh Quarshie, who introduced cocoa cultivation, and Jacob Wilson Sey, Alfred John Kabu Ocansey, George Alfred Grant (Paa Grant), Nii Kwabena Bonnie III, and Rebecca Naa Dedey Aryetey. Their contributions to agriculture, commerce, nationalism, political organisation and the struggle for independence demonstrate the important role played by individuals outside the formal political establishment in Ghana's development.
Engr. Dr Ocansey stated that the project is also intended to inspire the younger generation to understand Ghana's history and use lessons from the past to shape its future. He linked the initiative to President John Dramani Mahama's advocacy for reparatory justice and efforts to draw global attention to the historical consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.
The National Heroes Project will seek to establish a dedicated National Heroes Day, which will provide an opportunity for Ghana to collectively reflect on and honour people who contributed to its development. The project will also document Ghana's indigenous commercial heritage, citing archival research that identified hundreds of Ghanaian entrepreneurs who operated and competed with European expatriate businesses during the colonial period.
Activities lined up for the project include national heroes' symposiums and memorial lectures to be held between October and December 2026, followed by planning for a National Heroes Posthumous Awards ceremony between January and March 2027. From 2027 to 2032, the organisers plan to develop a National Heroes Museum and Hall of Fame to preserve the legacies, inventions and contributions of the personalities identified.
The project will produce a magazine titled “The Fathers of the Motherland; The National Heroes Diary,” which will document milestones and serve as an educational resource for schools, institutions and households. Engr. Dr Ocansey appealed to the media, development partners and the public, particularly the youth, to support the initiative, stating that preserving Ghana's historical heritage and learning from its past are essential to building a stronger foundation for Ghana's future development.
Key points
- The National Heroes Project aims to identify, honour and immortalise individuals who contributed significantly to Ghana's development.
- The project seeks to establish a dedicated National Heroes Day and develop a National Heroes Museum and Hall of Fame.
- The initiative is linked to President John Dramani Mahama's advocacy for reparatory justice and efforts to draw global attention to the historical consequences of the transatlantic slave trade.
