The 2026 Kwame Nkrumah Festival, dubbed "NkrumahFest 2026," reached its climax at Nkroful in the Western Region of Ghana on September 23. The celebration, which marked the 117th birthday of Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was attended by dignitaries, including Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Member of Parliament for Ellembelle and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources. The event's theme, "Nkrumah @117: Celebrating His Enduring Legacy: Africa Must Unite or Perish," underscored the significance of Nkrumah's vision for continental unity.
Mr. Buah, in his address, called on Ghana and Africa to guard against neo-colonialism and work towards actualizing Nkrumah's vision of a borderless Africa. He described the celebration as "a journey to Nkroful" – not a physical journey, but one of the mind and heart, focused on self-determination, Pan-Africanism, and dedication to a cause greater than oneself. According to Mr. Buah, Ghana and the continent must ensure that the African dream is transformed into one giant economy, bringing the vision of a United States of Africa into reality.
Prof. Patrick Loch Otieno Lumumba, a Kenyan Pan-Africanist, emphasized that Africa had witnessed significant transformation since Dr. Nkrumah entered politics. He noted that while many African countries had attained independence, Nkrumah's legacy linked Ghana's independence to the liberation of the entire continent. Prof. Lumumba reiterated Nkrumah's mantra of "Africa Unite" as a crucial step towards preventing a return to colonialism. He stressed that NkrumahFest was not just an annual celebration but a journey to conscientize Africans about the ongoing relevance of Nkrumah's work.
Madam Samia Yaba Nkrumah, daughter of Dr. Nkrumah, expressed gratitude to Mr. Buah for sustaining the annual "Journey to Nkroful" celebration. She pledged her family's support and emphasized the need to reintroduce Nkrumah's ideologies to the younger generation, correcting the impression that he was an isolationist. According to Madam Nkrumah, her father was not dogmatic but super-pragmatic and a strategist who envisioned a future where Ghana would be interested in industrialization.
Other dignitaries at the event, including Mr. Joseph Nelson, Western Regional Minister, and Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), also paid tribute to Dr. Nkrumah's legacy. Mr. Nelson called for a united, confident, and purposeful Ghana, while Mr. Nketiah congratulated Mr. Buah for using NkrumahFest to address the country's denigration of Dr. Nkrumah despite his recognition as African Man of the Millennium.
Traditional leaders, including Awulae Blay IX, Paramount Chief of the Eastern Nzema Traditional Area, and Nana Kobina Nketsia V, President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, also spoke at the event. Awulae Blay IX described Dr. Nkrumah as the voice of the voiceless and emphasized the significance of his slogan, "Africa Must Unite." Nana Kobina Nketsia V stressed that without Nkrumah, Ghana and Africa would be nothing and called for the compulsory study of Nkrumah's legacies in universities.
The NkrumahFest 2026 celebrations at Nkroful demonstrated the enduring legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and his vision for a united Africa. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on Nkrumah's contributions to Ghana's independence and the ongoing relevance of his ideologies. Key points from the celebration include the need for Ghana and Africa to guard against neo-colonialism, work towards continental unity, and reintroduce Nkrumah's ideologies to the younger generation.
Key points
- The 2026 Kwame Nkrumah Festival was held at Nkroful in the Western Region of Ghana.
- Dignitaries called for Ghana and Africa to work towards actualizing Nkrumah's vision of continental unity.
- The celebration provided a platform for stakeholders to reflect on Nkrumah's contributions to Ghana's independence and the ongoing relevance of his ideologies.
