Professor Samuel Ntewusu, Director of African Studies at the University of Ghana, has urged Ghanaians to critically examine the policies of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President, to inform the country's development. He made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the eve of the Founders' Day celebrations, marking the 117th anniversary of Nkrumah's birth. Ntewusu said Nkrumah's contribution to Ghana's independence struggle and his development ideas remain relevant today.
Ntewusu emphasized that Nkrumah's strategies were central to Ghana's independence success, although several people contributed to the struggle. He noted that Ghana's political identity is directly linked to Nkrumah's persona. The Professor of African Studies argued that the real measure of honouring Nkrumah is the extent to which his development ideas and policies are studied and applied. He said Nkrumah's thinking on economic independence, resource extraction, education, urbanization, agriculture, and energy provides areas for critical examination.
According to Ntewusu, Nkrumah's ideas on African unity and liberation remain relevant in present-day Africa. He urged all Ghanaians, regardless of political affiliations, to put aside partisan debates and critically examine Nkrumah's policies for the betterment of Ghana and Africa. Ntewusu said that reflection on Nkrumah's policies should encompass political, cultural, and economic liberation, adding that Nkrumah's vision of Africans advancing as a united front remains an important subject for study.
Ghanaians and Pan-Africans worldwide are commemorating the 117th birthday of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President and a leading advocate of African unity and liberation. The occasion, observed as Founder's Day, is a public holiday following Parliament's restoration of September 21 as Founder's Day in 2025. Dr Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, at Nkroful in the then Gold Coast.
Dr Nkrumah became active in the independence movement after returning from abroad in 1947 and founded the Convention People's Party (CPP) in 1949. Following the CPP's victory in the 1951 elections, he became Leader of Government Business and subsequently Prime Minister in 1952. Under his leadership, the Gold Coast attained independence from Britain on March 6, 1957, becoming Ghana and the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule.
Dr Nkrumah's administration pursued programs in education, industrialization, infrastructure, and social development, including the Volta River Project and the construction of the Akosombo Dam. Beyond Ghana, Dr Nkrumah was a leading advocate of Pan-Africanism and played a key role in the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, the precursor to the African Union. He was overthrown in a military coup on February 24, 1966, while on a state visit abroad.
Dr Nkrumah spent his final years in Guinea and died in Bucharest, Romania, on April 27, 1972. His legacy continues to inspire Ghanaians and Africans worldwide. Key initiatives and reflections on his policies are expected to continue, emphasizing the importance of critically examining his ideas to inform Ghana's development and promote African unity and liberation.
Key points
- Prof Samuel Ntewusu calls for critical examination of Dr Kwame Nkrumah's policies.
- Nkrumah's ideas on African unity and liberation remain relevant today.
- Ghana's political identity is directly linked to Nkrumah's persona.
