The Convention People’s Party (CPP) has called upon the public to contemplate Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s development-oriented vision and utilise his accomplishments as a benchmark for holding governments accountable.
The party emphasised that Dr. Nkrumah’s deliberate investments in crucial sectors of the economy and his drive for industrialization played a pivotal role in steering the nation towards economic independence, despite his “painful overthrow” from power in 1966.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency ahead of the commemoration of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day on Thursday, the General Secretary of the CPP, Nana Yaa Akyempim Jantuah, said Dr Nkrumah should be the “yardstick of good governance.”
She encouraged the public to contemplate the present condition of Ghana’s economy and compare it to the accomplishments of Dr. Nkrumah, who exerted unwavering effort to transform the nation into a formidable entity after it gained independence in 1957.
“Ghana was on the road to gaining economic independence, but Nkrumah was painfully taken out of power.
“Kwame Nkrumah developed and industrialised this nation. He created a good healthcare system for the nation and was very prudent with the resources that we had and used them to build a lot of infrastructure, including the Akosombo Dam and the Harbour,” she said.
According to Nana Yaa Jantuah, the current condition of the Ghanaian economy, marked by elevated inflation, a weakened local currency, and insurmountable debts, serves as a stark reflection of how far the aspiration for complete economic independence has disintegrated.
“It is time for us to arise to hold our government accountable. Ghanaians should let governments that come into power understand that they cannot do what they like and that the yardstick should be what Kwame Nkrumah did,” she said.
Ghanaians are scheduled to observe Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day on Thursday, September 21, 2023, which has been designated as a Statutory Public Holiday.
This special day is dedicated to the remembrance and commemoration of Ghana’s inaugural president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, who formerly held the position of Prime Minister. He was renowned as a leading advocate for continental unity and the liberation of the black race in Africa.
On March 6, 1957, Ghana attained independence after enduring 83 years of British colonial rule. This historic moment marked the country’s status as the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from British colonialism.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah declared Ghana “free forever” from colonial oppression, signifying a momentous milestone in the nation’s governance.