<<Print>>

The first rented house where Dr. Kwame Nkrumah lived at Kpehe in Accra has become a centre of attraction for many people, especially in the run-up to the centenary anniversary of his birth. The red-brick story mansion known as the Lutterodt Memorial Inn, is roofed with asbestos. Not far from it were houses in which some of his ministers and �gurus� of the Convention People�s Party (CPP) and the United Party (UP) lived. Among them were Okutwer Bekoe, Kojo Botsio, Krobo Edusei, J. B. Dankwa, Paa Grant, C.T Nylander, I.E Nkumsah, Komla Agbeli Ggedemah and A.E. Welbeck. Briefing the Times newspaper yesterday, the present occupant of the house, Suleiman Solomon, said Dr. Nkrumah lived in the house from 1948 to 1967 when he moved to the Flagstaff House after the attainment of independence. Mr. Solomon said the Lutterodt family of the Atupai Division of Accra, owned a stretch of land around the present Accra New Town formerly called Lagos Town, and in 1948, when he wanted accommodation, his late grandfather, Mr. Albert John Solomon Lutterodt, a strong supporter and admirer of Nkrumah, offered the mansion apparently free of charge initially to Dr. Nkrumah. Later according to an official document dated October 1, 1953, payment of 124 pounds eight shillings (124 8s) in respect of rent was made to cover the last quarter of the year. Mr. Solomon said it was in that house that Dr. Nkrumah lived before he contested the Accra Central parliamentary seat and won. �Dr. Nkrumah stayed here with his parents and siblings before he finally moved to the Flagstaff House, his official resident after the country had attained independence in 1957," he added. Mr. Solomon said when Nkrumah moved, his mother, Elizabeth Nyaniba continued to live there until she finally left to her own house at the Nyaniba Estate at Osu. Mr. Solomon said in 1956 while Dr. Nkrumah was living in the house two bombs exploded close to the southern perimeter wall, shaking all the surrounding houses and uprooted a mango three on the compound. He said the cracks caused by the bomb are still visible in the red-brick building which is still strong. Mr. Solomon said sometime in 2004 , the Director of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, one William Hrisir-Quaye, approached some members of the family to acquire and preserve the building as a national monument, but his family was determined to preserve it for posterity since it continued to attract people both local and foreigners.