|
|
| Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Celebrations - September 21. September 2009 - March 2010 / NEWS | |
| Daily Guide | GH¢4million For Nkrumah’s Birthday | | AN AMOUNT of GH¢4million (¢40bn) has been earmarked for the year-long activities of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s centenary celebrations, Prof. Akilakpa Sawyer, chairman of the committee overseeing the anniversary, has hinted.
He said the committee is determined to work within its budget to realize its aims and objectives.
“The committee will not go beyond its budget. We are still under budget and intend to be under budget for the year,” he stressed.
Prof. Sawyer dropped this hint when he took his turn at the Meet-the-Press series in Accra yesterday to shed light on the year-long activities to celebrate Ghana’s First President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Prof. Sawyer said the committee would keep records of all of its expenditure to make full auditing for its operations, adding that a situation that occurred during the Ghana @ 50 celebrations where there were missing records, would be avoided.
“We have learnt lessons from Ghana @ 50 celebrations; therefore we will keep records of all our activities and make full disclosure of the committee’s work after we have completed our programme,” he maintained.
The programme, which starts from May 22 to 25, 2010 under a joint African Union - Government of Ghana initiative, is on the theme, ‘Contemporary Relevance of Kwame Nkrumah’s Contribution to Pan-Africanism and Internationalism’.
As part of activities marking the anniversary, May 25, which is African Liberation Day, will climax the celebration.
The day, which would attract African Heads of State, veteran freedom fighters, leaders of the Pan-Africanist struggle and officials of the Commission of the African Union, will see the laying of wreaths on the tomb of Nkrumah, a flag-raising ceremony as well as tributes by African leaders at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.
An African Youth Summit, themed, ‘The Grand Debate, Continental Government Now or in the Future’, will be held on Saturday at the Accra International Conference Centre to give opportunity to tertiary students from the continent to interact with African leaders.
On the eve of the day, an exhibition on ‘Kwame Nkrumah @100: a Retrospective Exhibition of his Life, Times and Legacy’ will be held at his memorial park.
On Sunday May 23, Prof Atta Mills will open the Africa Liberation Week celebration, Kwame Nkrumah centenary colloquium and launch of African cultural renaissance campaign at the Accra International Conference Centre.
Chairman of the committee said after the birthday of Dr. Nkrumah in September last year, a number of activities such as May Day Parade of Trades Union Congress (TUC) and the introduction of the new GH¢2 notes, a series of campus lectures in and outside Accra among others, had been held in commemoration of Ghana’s First President.
The committee, he said, decided to do most of its activities on the quiet rather than make so much noise, adding, “Silence does not mean inactivity but we have done a lot”.
Touching on the legacy of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Prof. Akilakpa Sawyer said the committee does not have the mandate to revamp Nkrumah’s legacy but would rather promote his ideas, visions and policies.
“All have a role to play in the legacy developed by Nkrumah,” he urged.
The centenary celebration instituted by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) was in fulfillment of a promise made by Prof Mills to recognize the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on the national calendar as Founder’s Day.
Consequently, 21st of September each year, called Founder’s Day, has been declared a national holiday.
In furtherance to this, the African Union has adopted the centenary birthday celebration of Ghana’s First President.
Dr Kwame Nkrumah led Ghana’s independence struggle and lit the flame that blazed the liberation struggle of the African continent.
He opened the doors of Ghanaian politics, previously the exclusive domain of the educated elite and wealthy merchant class, to the ordinary people of Ghana including market women, farmers, fisher folks, teachers, civil servants and the youth, derisively called by some as ‘Verandah Boys.’
Beyond this inclusiveness in Ghana’s politics, Kwame Nkrumah broke down ethnic barriers in Ghanaian politics and everyday life, imbuing in Ghanaians, a strong sense of oneness, national identity and pride.
In Kwame Nkrumah, there was no north, south, east or west; there was one Ghana.
Above all, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah bequeathed to Ghanaians a sense of self-worth, national pride and dignity, and also embodied and promoted the Ghanaian identity far beyond the shores of the African continent.
By Sheilla Sackey *Source: Daily Guide / 19.05.2010 | | Myjoyonline.com | 'Nkrumah Was Born In Nsuaem, Not Nkroful' | | | The Chiefs and people of Tarkwa Nsuaem in Western Region are igniting a new debate - that Ghana’s first president, Dr Kwame Nkrumah was born in Nsuaem instead of Nkroful as has been ‘misinterpreted’ in the biography and records of the nation's founder.
They are therefore asking government to take steps to correct what they call the misinterpretation of the birth place of Kwame Nkrumah, 37 years after his death.
They claim that Nkrumah’s mother gave birth to him in Nsuaem but later moved with him at the age of two to Nkroful in Nzema Land to marry another man. A surviving head of the Nkrumah family in Nkroful has reacted sharply to the story, describing it as baseless and untrue.
Speaking to Citi FM news, the family head said, Kwame Nkrumah was born in Nkroful, however, the elders in Nkroful moved to Nsuaem to look after lands. He said even an uncle of his currently resides in Nsuaem and that the family moved through Wenchi, Dadieso and Nsuaem but Nkrumah was originally born in Nkroful, not Tarkwa, Kumasi, Half-Assini or anywhere else. He said whoever wrote the story clearly does not know the history of Kwame Nkrumah, asking if Nkrumah ever wrote in any of his books that he was born at Tarkwa or Accra.
The family head insisted that Nkrumah was born in Nkroful, and if the one who wrote the story wanted to know, he should go for more education on the history of Nkrumah.
| Source: Myjoyonline.com / (03.12.2009) |
| New York Sate Senate (US) | Senate Resoultion Celebrating the 100th Birthday of the late Kwame Nkrumah | | LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION celebrating the 100th Birthday of the late Kwame Nkrumah, and paying tribute to his many contributions to Pan-Africanism on Monday, September 21, 2009
WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to honor those distinguished individuals whose lifework and civic endeavor served to enhance the quality of life in their communities; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to celebrate the 100th Birthday of the late Kwame Nkrumah, and to pay tribute to his many contributions to Pan-Africanism on Monday, September 21, 2009; and
WHEREAS, In 1909, Kwame Nkrumah was born to Madam Nyaniba in Nkroful, Gold Coast; he graduated from the prestigious Achimota School in Accra in 1930, studied at a Roman Catholic Seminary, and taught at a Catholic school in Axim; in 1935, he left Ghana for the United States, receiving a BA degree from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania in 1939, where he pledged the Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., and later received an STB (Bachelor of Sacred Theology) degree in 1942; and
WHEREAS, Kwame Nkrumah earned a Master of Science degree in Education from the University of Pennsylvania in 1942, and a Master of Arts degree in Philosophy the following year; while lecturing in political science at Lincoln University, he was elected president of the African Students Organization of America and Canada; and
WHEREAS, As an undergraduate at Lincoln University, Kwame Nkrumah participated in at least one student theater production and published an essay on European government in Africa in the student newspaper, The Lincolnian; during his time in the United States, he preached at black Presbyterian Churches in Philadelphia and New York City, read books about politics and divinity, and tutored students in philosophy; and
WHEREAS, Kwame Nkrumah encountered the ideas of Marcus Garvey, and in 1943 met and began a lengthy correspondence with Trinidadian Marxist C.L.R. James, Russian expatriate Raya Dunayevskaya, and Chinese-American Grace Lee Boggs, all of whom were members of a US based Trotskyist intellectual cohort; Kwame Nkrumah later credited James with teaching him 'how an underground movement worked'; and
WHEREAS, Kwame Nkrumah arrived in London in May of 1945 intending to study at the LSE; after meeting with George Padmore, he helped organize the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester, England; he then founded the West African National Secretariat to work for the decolonization of Africa; in addition, he served as Vice-President of the West African Students' Union (WASU); and
WHEREAS, Returning to Ghana in 1947, Kwame Nkrumah became general secretary of the newly founded United Gold Coast Convention, but split from it in 1949 to form the Convention People's Party (CPP); and
WHEREAS, After his 'positive action' campaign created disturbances in 1950, Kwame Nkrumah was jailed, but when the CPP swept the 1951 elections, he was freed to form a government, and he led the colony to independence as Ghana in 1957; and
WHEREAS, Kwame Nkrumah was an influential 20th century advocate of Pan-Africanism, and the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966; over his lifetime, he was awarded honorary doctorates by Lincoln University; Moscow State university; Cairo University in Cairo, Egypt; Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland; Humboldt University in the former East Berlin; and several other institutions; and
WHEREAS, Kwame Nkrumah was the motivating force behind the movement for independence of Ghana, then British West Africa, and its first president when it became independent in 1957; his numerous writings address Africa's political destiny; and
WHEREAS, A firm believer in African liberation, Kwame Nkrumah pursued a radical Pan-African policy, playing a key role in the formation of the Organization of African Unity in 1963; and
WHEREAS, In 1964, Kwame Nkrumah formed a one-party state; he was over thrown by the military in 1966, with the help of western backing and spent his last years in exile, dying in Bucharest, Romania, on April 27, 1972; his legacy and dream of a "United States of Africa" still remains a goal among many; and
WHEREAS, Kwame Nkrumah's distinguished record merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to celebrate the 100th Birthday of the late Kwame Nkrumah, and to pay tribute to his many contributions to Pan-Africanism on Monday, September 21, 2009.
Bill Perkins District 30 | | Daily Graphic, Ghana | Hundreds troop Ghana to celebrate Nkrumah 18.09.2009 | | | Hundreds of people from across Africa, America, Europe, Asia, The Caribbean, Pacific and other parts of the world are trooping down to Ghana to celebrate the centenary birthday of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, which falls on Monday, September 21, 2009.
The centres of attraction will be Nkroful in the Western Region, the birthplace of Dr Nkrumah, and the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra, where his mortal remains are presently accommodated.
The day has been declared by President Mills as a statutory public holiday in honour of Dr Nkrumah, one of the most revered black freedom fighters in the world.
Apart from the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum and Nkroful, places and projects such as the Akosombo Dam, the Peduase Lodge, Achimota School and the Volta Aluminium Company Limited (VALCO), which strike fond memories of Dr Nkrumah, are expected to attract enthusiastic crowds from far and near.
Last week Friday, the Vice-President, Mr John Mahama, launched activities for the centenary celebration, which would be climaxed on the African Union (AU) Day on May 25, 2010, when the whole of Africa is expected to celebrate him.
At the 13th AU Summit in Sirte, Libya, this year, African leaders unanimously voted to adopt the centenary birthday of Dr Nkrumah as an AU activity.
Activities to commemorate the occasion include lectures, symposia, exhibitions and cultural performances.
Acknowledged by the BBC as the African of the Millennium, Dr Nkrumah touched the lives of thousands of freedom-loving people in Africa and beyond after leading Ghana to attain political independence from British colonial rule in 1957 and, thereafter, taking a frontline role in the African liberation struggle.
A visionary leader, he was considered by many as peerless and decades ahead of his generation.
According to a former Chairman of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Dr Edmund N. Delle, the difference between Nkrumah and his peers was universality of his person and the manner his messages touched the lives of the suffering and oppressed throughout the world.
| | Daily Guide | Nkrumah’s Parade In Disarray | | | THE “ONE Ghana Unity Flag Parade” being organized in all the regional capitals in the country, as part of activities marking the centenary celebration of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first President of the republic of Ghana, was in total disarray in Takoradi yesterday.
When DAILY GUIDE got to the Takoradi Jubilee Park, the venue for the event, at about 10:00 am yesterday, none of the organizers, both at the national and regional levels were present, even though the programme was to commence at 9:00 am.
The few chiefs from the Western Region, including Awulae Annor Adjei, Paramount Chief of Western Nzema Traditional Area, who were invited by the Regional Coordinating Council (RCC) to witness the programme and append their signatures on the flag, got to the Jubilee Park as early as 8:30 am.
The chiefs and elderly Nkrumaists who thronged the park in their numbers, had no option but to leave the venue at about 10:15 am since there were no indications that the programme would take place at the venue.
The Metropolitan Chief Executive (MCE) of the Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (STMA), Kobina Pra Annan, stunned the sparse crowd at the park when he arrived there at about 10:20 am and revealed that he knew nothing about the programme.
The MCE said he only got to know about the programme when the Regional Minister, Paul Evans Aidoo, called him on Wednesday evening at about 10:00 pm to inform him about it.
He stressed that he was not part of the organizers and that he was at the venue to prepare the place for a public forum on the oil and gas industry, which would take place today (Friday).
The statement from the MCE did not go down well with some senior citizens who had gathered at the park to sign on the flag, as they wondered how the MCE was not aware of the event despite the various radio and television announcements.
When the regional minister and his entourage finally arrived with the unity flag at about 11:45 am, majority of the people who came there to witness the event had left.
He explained that the late arrival of the flag to the Sekondi-Takoradi metropolis was due to the fact that the national organizers of the event delayed in bringing the flag from Kumasi to Takoradi.
According to him, the One Unity Flag Parade signified the unity that exists among Ghanaians irrespective of their tribes hence, the people’s signatures on one flag.
On whether he was impressed at the few people who were at the park to witness the event he remarked, “Ah there are people here but we are not forcing anyone to come and sign”.
The regional minister pointed out that he was not perturbed by the few people who were present, and that the real celebration of the centenary anniversary would take place at Nkroful, Nkrumah’s birth place, on Saturday.
In an interview with DAILY GUIDE, Anastas Anderson, Director of Infiniti Communications Limited, organizers of the event noted that it was the responsibility of the RCC to see to the proper organization of the event by preparing the venue before the arrival of the flag.
Among those who appended their signature on the unity flag were the Regional Minister, his deputy, Betty Bosumtwi-Sam, the Regional Police Commander, Hamidu Mahama, Col. Kaku Korsah, a former STMA boss and Awulae Angamatu Agyan, Omanhene of Gwira Traditional Area.
From Emmanuel Opoku, Takoradi
| brong-ahafonews.com | Concern Youth of BA Protests removal of Busia statute 16.09.2009 | | | A group calling itself the 'Concern Youth of Brong-Ahafo', has protested against the decision by the Brong-Ahafo regional minister, Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo to demolish the statute of the late Dr K.A. Busia at the Jubilee Park and replace it a statute of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The group in a press statement signed by its PRO, Frank Korang Takyi, asked the regional minister to retract his statement, rescind his decision and apologise to the chiefs and people of the region.
The group said it would be a huge humiliation to pull down the edifice in honour of the late former prime minister who was a native of Wenchi in the Brong-Ahafo region.
The concern youth said the statute is the only one in honour of the late former prime minister and it would be fair to the people of Wenchi and Brong-Ahafo if it is pulled down.
The group added that it would be a waste of public funds to pull down Busia's statute and erect a new one for Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. They argue that since Dr. Nkrumah is from the western region, his statute could be erected there. The group believes the NDC is bent on demolishing Dr. Busia's statute because Busia was the founder of the UP which is linked to the NPP.
The group said much as Dr. Kwame Nkrumah deserves to be honoured for creating the Brong Ahafo region, Busia also deserves the recognition given to him by the region, for putting it on the world's academic map.
The group is not pleased with on-going events and has called for all stakeholders in the region to remain calm and approach the issue with utmost restrain and maturity.
It has, therefore, demanded that the statue of the former Prime Minister of Ghana, Professor Kofi Abrefa Busia should remain intact to avoid any chaos which might erupt in the Brong-Ahafo Region.
| Source: brong-ahafonews.com |
| | GNA | One Ghana Unity Flag arrives in Brong Ahafo Region 15.09.2009 | | | Sunyani (B/A) Sept. 15, GNA - The One Ghana Unity Flag, which is on a nationwide float as part of activities marking the centenary birthday celebrations of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President, arrived in Sunyani in the Brong-Ahafo Region on Tuesday.
It arrived at the regional capital in the early hours of Tuesday, after a tour of the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions. Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, flanked by the Deputy Regional Minister, Mr. Eric Opoku and members of the Regional Co-ordinating Council received the flag, at Techiman, which had arrived from Tamale. Mr. Marfo and the flagbearers led a procession of security agencies and school children amidst brass band music through some principal streets of Sunyani to the Jubilee Park, where he addressed a special parade.
The regional minister recounted Nkrumah's leading role in the struggle for Ghana's independence, adding: "It is important that we remember him particularly for the country's high score in democratic credentials and development, which has projected her as a shining example to the rest of Africa and the world."
Mr. Marfo extolled Dr Nkrumah's instrumental role in the creation of the region.
Mr. Anastas Anderson, team leader, said the essence of the one Ghana unity flag tour initiative was to remind Ghanaians that Ghana "is our only country and we need to be united to move her forward". To drive the message of unity in diversity home that Ghana is one country with one people and a common destiny, the regional and the deputy ministers and members of the public appended their signatures in the flip side of the flag.
The flag is due for the Ashanti Region and then to the Central and Volta regions.
The tour is expected to end in Greater Accra Region on September 21, the birthday of Dr Nkrumah. | | | |
| |
| |
| | | | |
|
|