“Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with total liberation of the African continent ” were the climax of Nkrumah’s speech on the eve of independence, after a long tussle of fighting for Ghana’s freedom. Today, Nkrumah’s speech stands tall, as a model of Pan Africanism amongst African states.
Like a a torch of fire springing up to becoming a wild fire, Kwame Nkrumah’s passion to see a united Africa sparked up the decolonisation of other African countries and it’s diaspora when he fought to gain independence ‘now’ by all possible means as oppose to ‘within the shortest possible time’ propagated by his contenders. As a realist as Nkrumah was, he married Helena Ritz Fathia Nkrumah, an Egyptian to further steer his agenda for a unified Africa through inter- racial marriages.
Subsequently, his influence would set the pace for midnight independence ceremonies for countries like Nigeria, Tanzania, Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe and even across the Black Atlantic, Guyana in 1966 and the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997.
66 years on with Ghana being the first sub-saharan African country to gain independence from British colonial rule, she has strived to keep an independent balanced front against the influences of the global north in her fourth republic. Thus the current president, His excellency Nana Addo Danquah will reiterate the ability of the “Blackman being capable in managing his own affairs” (words of Nkrumah) in his Ghana Beyond Aid agenda. Has this been enough?
Ghana is considered as one of the most politically stable countries in West Africa, since its transition to a multi party system of democracy in 1992. However, after 66 years, has the people ‘been ready to fight their own battles and show that the blackman is indeed capable of managing his own affairs . Has Ghana indeed been free forever? and can the freedom of 66 years be a model of total liberation of the Africa continent as the pioneer of African freedom would have it?
Happy independence celebration as we reflect on these.
Long live Ghana
Long live Africa
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