On September 21st this year, the whole of Africa is expected to join jubilant Ghanaians in celebrating the man who is much respected in African and global politics, and who gallantly led a team of patriotic, passionate and freedom-thirsty Ghanaians to claim political freedom for this country in 1957, making Ghana the first country to have achieved this feat from European colonial rule in sub-Saharan Africa.Calls for enthusiastic participation in the celebrations have come not only from the rank and file of the Nkrumah’s Political Party, the Convention People’s Party, but from the government of Ghana and all Africa leaders. Earlier this year, the Vice President indicated that “there is no time to waste, we’ll move on with alacrity”, urging all Ghanaians to participate in this all-important event. The African Union (AU) has also adopted the centenary birthday celebration as a continental event. At the 13th Ordinary Summit of the African Union in Libya, the African Heads of State indicated in their resolution to “unanimously celebrate Dr Nkrumah’s centenary birth and put it on the AU’s calendar of Special Events”, gladly accepting President Mills’ invitation to join in the celebrations. Their acceptance is undoubtedly recognition of the unmatched pioneering role Dr. Kwame Nkrumah played in the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU).
Several activities have been slated for this august event. As at July this year, thirty million tree-seedlings had been planted in four of the country’s ten regions to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. It is expected that a total of one hundred million tree seedlings (symbolic of the one hundredth birthday celebration) would be planted across the ten regions of the country.
Although Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s name will be the commonest words on the lips of Ghanaians and the teams of international journalists who will throng this country for the celebrations, the world will not call out this name without a deserved mention of the people for whom Ghana’s independence was won – Ghanaians.
Our forefathers, regardless of gender, age or ethnicity, fought together with Nkrumah for the country’s political liberation. The current generation of Ghanaians are also working hard to build on this solid foundation laid for us. It is therefore in recognition of this all-inclusive participation in the country’s birth and development that a major highlight of the celebrations would be the remembrance of women and youth for their role in the struggle for independence. Let us all join hands as we celebrate Years of Sacrifice and Dedication.
“The Centenary of Kwame Nkrumah: A life of Struggle, A Vision of Africa Unbound”
