In an interview with the Daily Graphic, the Member of Parliament for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah Kofi-Buah, explained that Dr Nkrumah’s footprints were imprinted not only in Ghana’s socio-economic development, but in Africa, and the only way to preserve that is to institute a befitting memorial to reflect what he did.

“The story of Nkrumah needs to be told, preserved and celebrated to inspire the new generation.

His footprints in almost every socio-economic facet of Ghana: education, energy, trade and agriculture, as well as preserving the environment, are things that are still very relevant today.

“Beyond that, Dr Nkrumah remains a global citizen whose story was one of vision, resilience and hope, and his story needs to be told to remind ourselves that achieving his vision is still possible,” Mr Kofi-Buah said.

He was explaining the rationale for instituting the annual event to honour the memory of Ghana’s first President.

The yearly event is marked with a series of activities and climaxes on September 21, the birthday of Dr Nkrumah, with a durbar.

This year, the activities included the inauguration of the refurbished Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, presentation of scholarships to deserving students to continue their education, and the durbar, which attracted people from all walks of life.

Among the guests were representatives from Africans in the diaspora, a delegation from the tourism sector, led by the Minister of Tourism Abla Dzifa Gomashie and several people from neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire. 

Spiritual journey

Mr Kofi-Buah said the initiative aimed to use it as a wheel for reviving not just the plans of Nkrumah that set Ghana on a successful economic and social development path, but also the efforts that sought to unite Africa and, by extension, pan Africanism.

His struggles to get an education, eventually getting the opportunity to travel out of the country, where he met other like-minded persons and stepped into the pan-Africanism movement and returning home to lead the charge for independence and pan-Africanism, are all stories that have to be told over and over again to inspire the youth to aspire.

“Beyond Ghana, his energy and pan-Africanism that fast-tracked the independence of many countries in sub-Saharan Africa.

“A journey to Nkroful will be a spiritual journey of the mind and heart to selflessness to understand what it is to lead, to be a servant-leader and how to die a little for country, just as Osagyefo did,” Mr Kofi-Buah emphasised.

Driving tourism, economy

The MP said the initiative was also going to be used as a stepping stone to strengthen economic opportunities for the people in the area, using the tourism potential.

He said that from the patronage of this year’s event, it was obvious that many people were interested, thus the need to help people to benefit more from it.

During the week-long event, the number of people who visited and everything that was sold attracted good patronage, indicating that it could be turned into a real economic venture.

It is gratifying to know that something that started as the people of Nzema’s way of immortalising their son, Kwame Nkrumah, has taken on an international dimension with Africans in the diaspora actively taking part, while the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture has also come on board to make it a national affair.

“Thus, beyond it being a spiritual journey for all those who believe in the ideals and legacy of Dr Nkrumah, we intend to turn the initiative into a tourism attraction and help the people take full advantage of its economic potential.

“We will expand the Mausoleum to also include other recreational centres and activities, as well as refurbish Osagyefo’s retreat sanctuary at Half Assini.

We are going to create a whole footprint of Osagyefo’s legacy. Indeed, the phrase, Nkrumah never dies will be reflected in the Journey to Nkroful going forward,” the Ellembelle MP stressed.