Daughter of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and a former Chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP), Samia Yaba Nkrumah, has stated that her father’s role as Ghana’s first President and his pan-African vision warrants his special standing in Ghana’s history towards independence.
She said unlike others who also played their part even before his father came into the scene, Dr, Kwame Nkrumah was the catalyst in the struggle and final attainment of independence. President Nana Akufo-Addo’s speech on Independence Day, has sparked some debate over the perceived sidelining of other Ghanaians who contributed to the independence struggle.
President Akufo-Addo’s speech was criticized by some, including the CPP, as being a skewed account of history to suit his father, Edward Akufo-Addo, and uncle, J.B Danquah who also played their roles on the road to independence. Samia Nkrumah described the whole debate as “a huge distraction” in an interview on Point Blank on Eyewitness News, as she reminded that “Kwame Nkrumah himself said the independence struggle started before him.”
She however stressed that, her father definitely played the role of a catalyst, and would have given him more prominence had she been the one who gave the Independence Day speech. “We agree that there were so many other people [in the independence struggle] but his role was significant. Nobody can take that away from him.” “If I was giving that speech, I would have given Kwame Nkrumah more prominence. All the records show who the main catalyst was. Kwame Nkrumah had a vision… even though he came to collaborate with UGCC [United Gold Coast Convention], but we know from history he was going to come down anyway.” “Kwame Nkrumah had a particular pan-African vision for our independence so he was bound to be the catalyst.
So yes, thousands were instrumental, but he was the catalyst and let’s give him is due,” Samia Nkrumah asserted.
Nkrumah is the founder of modern day Ghana
She went a step further to state that, Kwame Nkrumah’s influence was even being felt today because, according to her, the governing New Patriotic Party (NPP), an offshoot of the main opposition to Nkrumah’s CPP, was riding on his vision. Samia Nkrumah said “we can praise all the others, but this is a man who fashioned our whole nation building policy; free and compulsory education, the Akosombo dam, the industries… I am happy, that finally even the offshoot of the old opposition to Kwame Nkrumah is saying one district, one factory and one village one dam. That is what Kwame Nkrumah was planning.” “The day we realise Kwame Nkrumah’s ideas are for now, is the day we will stop quarreling over Kwame Nkrumah,” she concluded.
Nkrumah was the best African leader – Mugabe
Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, has described Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, as a true revolutionist who fought for the emancipation of Ghana and Africa.
The 93-year old President made the remark while addressing the media at a special gathering at a hotel in Accra on Tuesday.
Source: citifmonline.com
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You see how emaciated and aged you have become all of a sudden. You all jealously threw your weights behind Nana Addo and his NPP against Mahama. You see the stress you are going through. Your fathers' statute would soon be pulled to the graond and founder's day renamed then you will see your smoothness level. Cetewaa
i have listened to some of NKRUMAH speeches,i have this feeling he is not from this country.I believe he was brought in,because he was preaching about AFRICA EMANCIPATION abroad.So the founding FATHERS taught is wise to invite him to help.
Samia and Sekou, please just understand that one person cannot create a nation. Nana Addo did not discredit the role of Nkrumah. All he sought to do was to state the role played by all and sundry. So please relax.
Lady Samia,Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was the first ever Ghanaian to be given the mandate to form a government to run and grow the economy of the newly independent Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah was most vocal in the quest for the establishment of the new political country that has come to be called Ghana. Kwame Nkrumah was only an invited member to that team that agitated for the liberation of the Gold Coast from Great Britain. KWAME NKRUMAH DID NOT FOUND GHANA. THE NAME GHANA HAD LONG BEFORE KWAME NKRUMAH APPEARED ON THE SCENE FOR THE EMANCIPATION FIGHT BEEN CHOSEN. IT WAS DR J. B. DANKWAH THAT HAD SUGGESTED THE ANCIENT GHANA NAME TO BE APPROPRIATED FOR THE NEW NATION TO BE BORN. KWAME NKRUMAH DID NOT FOUND THE NEW GHANA NATION. NKRUMAH WAS NOT, AND IS NOT THE FOUNDER OF THIS COUNTRY WHERE YOU HAPPEN TO BE A BORN CITIZEN TODAY. ON ONE OF THE FIRST EVER MONEY COINS MINTED FOR THIS COUNTRY GHANA WAS A WRONG INSCRIPTION THAT BORE THE EFFIGY OF DR KWAME NKRUMAH:CONDICTOR CIVITATIS GHANIENSIS.THIS WAS, AND IS YET, A TOTALLY MISAPPLIED TITLE kWAME NKRUMAH TRIED GIVING HIMSELF. Sure, Kwame Nkrumah is significant to the beginning nationhood of the Republic of Ghana. He was the first ever chief administrator of the young nation; but, regrettably, Nkrummah botched the economy. He was never able to grow the beginning Ghana economy to any healthy robust growth; his socialist/communist ideology was absolutely foreign to the Ghana genes. This wher you find the significance of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Samia Lady.
Samia, The foundation of your father was faulty. It was centered on his personality. Therefore his blessed overthrow ended everything. On the other hand, Danquah and Busia focused on their ideology and Philosophy of what they preached and believed hence they are more relevant in contemporary Ghana and the Ghana to come. CPP and what it stood for died in 1966. Kwesi Pratt and the rest are just making empty noises.
Samia, you and your siblings have succeeded to obliterate the rich memory of your father. Look at what you have done to the CPP your father created and nurtured and left for you as his greatest legacy. Revive the CPP, make it vibrant and relevant to the present political dispensation. Then you can hold your head high and your father will be happy in his grave. Thank You.
You are all trying to twist her statement. There is no denying fact from her that Dr Nkrumah didn't do it all alone. She acknowledged the fact others also played various roles to achieve Ghana's independence. You have all presumed what is on her mind and therefore saying it for her.
Madam, we all that he is your father but the truth always hurt, pls go back and learn the history of the big six, some people started before your father who was outside the country was brought to join them. pls accept the fact and stop the unnecessary commit. wow!
No individual can be credited with the independence of Ghana without acknowledging the efforts of those who actually initiated the struggle. It is like playing football; the person who scores the winning goal usually dominates discussions. We salute all those who fought the battle at the peril of their lives for Ghana independence.
Samia, so you think we should credit Kwame Nkrumah with 100% of our independence? No way.People started the struggled long before he was brought in by UGCC and because of his diabolic nature, he imprisioned some of them to be able to achieve his weird dream.Please Samia, give us a break.