Last Monday saw Ghana and some other parts of Africa celebrate Dr. Kwame Nkrumah's centenary. As expected, there were lots of discussions and debates surrounding the personality of Kwame Nkrumah and the contribution he has made to Ghana's progress and development. Mighty African made a round up of blog posts that discussed this all-important occasion last week. My approach to remembering Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is to attempt to answer the question: “if Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was alive today, what would have been his aspiration for Ghana and Africa?” Please share what you think he would do?
Internet connection all over Ghana
The Internet has boosted productivity in health, education, business, agriculture and almost all aspects of human endeavour. In addition, it has spawned a whole industry from which many people earn their livelihood. Kwame Nkrumah, identifying this great opportunity, would advocate for the Internet to be available in every Ghanaian, home, work place and school. After ensuring this he would then make a statement like: “Ghana's connectivity to the Internet would be meaningless unless it is linked up to the wiring up of the whole African continent.”
Cheap and affordable energy
Nkrumah's vision to develop a vibrant energy sector to power Ghana's industries was truly significant. The fact that he constructed Ghana's sole hydroelectric power plant and proposed the one that is currently under construction is prove of the above claim. Nkrumah today would be a voice for the development of nuclear energy to satisfy the electricity needs of Ghana and her neighbouring countries. In the wake of the recent oil discovery in Ghana, our first president would ensure that there is more Ghanaian involvement in the actual drilling and refinement of the oil. He would lead the effort to build more oil refineries to process the crude oil locally, so as to increase the value of the oil exports.
Permanent African seat on UN security council
On the political front, Kwame Nkrumah, being a veritable voice for more African influence on the global stage, would definitely be one of the backbones for the current call for Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN security council. This is even more important in the face of the increasing complexity of the global political sphere as well as Africa's gradual emergence as a strategic piece in the global jigsaw.
Greater access to tertiary education
Nkrumah's efforts in the past ensured that many Ghanaians had access to at least secondary education. The dynamic nature of today's global economy calls for not only a skilled workforce, but a very creative workforce. In this regard Kwame Nkrumah would take steps to ensure that the doors of higher education be opened to every Ghanaian citizen.
African space exploration centre
Space science and technology will play a crucial role in the development of our planet in the future. We're all witnesses to the important role that satellite technology, for example, has played in revolutionising communication. If Kwame Nkrumah was alive, I believe he would advocate for the setting up of a space exploration centre, at least at the continental level, in order to ensure that Africa benefits fully from the advantages therein.
PS: Kwame Nkrumah is the common theme of the GhanaBlogging group for the month of September.
Internet connection all over Ghana
The Internet has boosted productivity in health, education, business, agriculture and almost all aspects of human endeavour. In addition, it has spawned a whole industry from which many people earn their livelihood. Kwame Nkrumah, identifying this great opportunity, would advocate for the Internet to be available in every Ghanaian, home, work place and school. After ensuring this he would then make a statement like: “Ghana's connectivity to the Internet would be meaningless unless it is linked up to the wiring up of the whole African continent.”
Cheap and affordable energy
Nkrumah's vision to develop a vibrant energy sector to power Ghana's industries was truly significant. The fact that he constructed Ghana's sole hydroelectric power plant and proposed the one that is currently under construction is prove of the above claim. Nkrumah today would be a voice for the development of nuclear energy to satisfy the electricity needs of Ghana and her neighbouring countries. In the wake of the recent oil discovery in Ghana, our first president would ensure that there is more Ghanaian involvement in the actual drilling and refinement of the oil. He would lead the effort to build more oil refineries to process the crude oil locally, so as to increase the value of the oil exports.
Permanent African seat on UN security council
On the political front, Kwame Nkrumah, being a veritable voice for more African influence on the global stage, would definitely be one of the backbones for the current call for Africa to have a permanent seat on the UN security council. This is even more important in the face of the increasing complexity of the global political sphere as well as Africa's gradual emergence as a strategic piece in the global jigsaw.
Greater access to tertiary education
Nkrumah's efforts in the past ensured that many Ghanaians had access to at least secondary education. The dynamic nature of today's global economy calls for not only a skilled workforce, but a very creative workforce. In this regard Kwame Nkrumah would take steps to ensure that the doors of higher education be opened to every Ghanaian citizen.
African space exploration centre
Space science and technology will play a crucial role in the development of our planet in the future. We're all witnesses to the important role that satellite technology, for example, has played in revolutionising communication. If Kwame Nkrumah was alive, I believe he would advocate for the setting up of a space exploration centre, at least at the continental level, in order to ensure that Africa benefits fully from the advantages therein.
PS: Kwame Nkrumah is the common theme of the GhanaBlogging group for the month of September.
You know, I strongly believe Nkrumah would be weeping, wailing and restless in his grave by now, to see that the Ghana he struggled for after 50 years of existence is one big, chaotic mess. I never watched or is interested in any of the noise about the man simply because all those claiming to be celebrating him are all hypocrites who never for once believe in any of his vision. They are all hopeless opportunists.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on all of these points. He was a visionary and the only visionary president so far. For those who cry for the opposition at that time know that they never even had a flag before Nkrumah joined their party and they grumbled and grumbled when they were arrested for agitation. How can you love to swim without getting wet? How can you love independence if you hate the prisons and loved your suits.......
ReplyDeleteHmm, I can feel some stong Nkrumahist love in here
ReplyDelete@sinaisix,
ReplyDeleteI'm celebrating Nkrumah but i'm not a "hopeless opportunist".
indeed, there are a whole lot of people celebrating Nkrumah who are not "hopeless opportunists" as you claim!
such positions as your don't really help. such general 'fiats' that are but just fallacies!
cheers!
these makes interesting insights!
ReplyDeleteNkrumah at the dawn of the 21st century you mean right?
well, i guess he gave us enough indications for us to be able to speculate in this direction!
not bad!
Hey Gameli,
ReplyDeleteA very interesting perspective. Full of optimism. I like that! As for realism..mmmm...
@Novisi, thanks.
ReplyDelete@Abena, I'm glad you like my apparent optimism, i try to show that in my writing. Realism? Nkrumah was not perceived to be realistic most of the time!
yeah, this remains a speculation.
ReplyDeletei'd rather call it the vision of Gameli. and that would be safer!
hehe!
@Novisi, hehe, you're impossible!
ReplyDeleteWas just wondering, if you had to state your own vision, what would it be?
chale, loved this!
ReplyDeleteHello. I wanted to let you know that your post provided inspiration for a round-up of Blogs commemorating Nkrumah's centennary. Thank you!
ReplyDeletehttp://globalvoicesonline.org/2009/10/09/ghana-we-still-remember-kwame-nkrumah/
@Mighty African, thanks oo.
ReplyDeleteThanks @Gayle, that was a great round-up. The various blog posts sum up just how important Kwame Nkrumah is in Ghanaian politics. We shall remember him forever.