(’All must embrace Nkrumah’s centenary celebration’)

Page 17, Aug 10, 2009
Story: Emmanuel Adu-Gyamerah
THE Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle, Mr Emmanuel Armah Kofi Buah, has appealed to Ghanaians to put their political, religious, cultural and ethnic differences aside and embrace the centenary celebration of the First President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
The centenary celebration of the birth of the late Dr Nkrumah is expected to be marked on September 21, this year.
Mr Buah, who is also a Deputy Minister of Energy, said the celebration must be seen as an event aimed at achieving national unity, reconciliation and peaceful co-existence among Ghanaians.
"Osagyefo was a pacesetter in the fight against discrimination, disunity and underdevelopment,” he said, adding that he was considered by many as a symbol of African unity.
Mr Buah, who was speaking to Daily Graphic after a tour of his constituency, said that notion was made clear even after Dr Nkrumah’s death when he was voted the African of the Millennium.
He said he toured the constituency to meet the chiefs and people of the area and deliberate on how to celebrate the occasion to honour Osagyefo Dr Nkrumah for his contribution towards the advancement of humanity, particularly Africans.
He said the centenary celebration would enable the youth to draw inspiration from the life and achievements of the founder of modern Ghana, whose selfless sacrifice won the country her independence.
Mr Buah said while the whole continent of Africa would be celebrating the life of Dr Nkrumah in different ways, Ghanaians must demonstrate to the rest of the world that Nkrumah stood for all.
“This is the time for us in Ghana to tell the story of the founder of our nation. We must be actively engaged in showcasing his achievements, his ideologies and above all the courage and the ‘can do’ spirit that characterised the lifestyle of Nkrumah, which gave birth to the spirit of nationalism at the time of independence,” he said.
The MP urged Ghanaians to be proud of the noble man, adding that even though he was no more, his legacy was everywhere throughout the world.
“That is the impeccable position bequeathed this nation by a legend," Mr Buah asserted.
He suggested a common platform that would bring the people of Nzema together to share and brainstorm on the need to make their children imbibe the culture and spirit of nationalism, unity and discipline.
That, according to him, would help address most of the challenges, such as illiteracy, poverty, diseases, indiscipline and lawlessness among other problems confronting the people of the area.
“Don’t sit in Accra, Kumasi and Takoradi and expect change to take place in Nzema; your role and responsibility should bring about that desirable change. This is very important for the development of our area,” Mr Buah emphasised.