Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah remembered – 50 years after his death  (Part Two)

TRIBUTES

On his death, many tributes were written by eminent personalities around the world to eulogise him. General Yakubu Gowon, himself a soldier heading a military Government in the Federal Republic of Nigeria wrote: “The news of the death of the First President of Ghana, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah has reached me with profound shock.

History will remember him for giving all he had in the best way he could do to his people and Africa”. Amilcar Carbral, his friend and Revolutionary Comrade of Guinea Bissau, wrote: “Nkrumah did not die of Prostrate Cancer. He did not die of cancer of the throat. He died of cancer of betrayal by his own people.”

It is of historical interest to note that at home the perpetrators of this bloody coup d’etat unashamedly eulogised him thus: “His name in history has been assured.” By this eulogy, it is palpably evident that they themselves appreciated the significant role Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah played in the socio-economic transformation of Ghana and the African liberation struggle.

The question that comes to the fore is: if they acknowledged this fact why then did they oust him from office? Could this be hypocrisy at its apogee? John Webster in his book Duchess of Malfi wrote; “Hypocrisy is woven out of a fine thread, subtler than vulcan’s engine, yet believeth it – your darkest actions, nay your private thoughts will come to light.”

Yes, their darkest actions and their private thoughts have come to light as classified information released by the CIA proves beyond all reasonable doubts that the perpetrators of this dastardly and condemnable coup d’etat were agents of the imperialists used to topple Nkrumah.

SOCIO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

It is an irrefragable fact that Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah contributed positively and tremendously to the infrastructural and industrial development of Ghana.

The Akosombo Dam, Tema Township, The Tema Motorway, the establishment of Ghana Medical School, built hospitals and clinics; built Aboso Glass Factory, Zuarungu Meat Factory, Wenchi Tomato Factory,

Others are: Akosombo Textiles Ltd, Kumase Shoe Factory, Kade Match Factory, Tarkwa Bonsa Tyre Factory, built Secondary Schools, Tema Secondary School, Mfantsiman Secondary School, Ghana National College, University of Cape Coast, just to mention a few.

Rather unfortunately, when he was overthrown his detractors engaged in a compendium of lies and palpable falsehoods with the obvious sinister motive of sinking his name into historical oblivion.

His detractors even composed offensive and derogatory songs which were intended to dent his political image. Through such songs they were able to win the minds of some Ghanaians who were gullible and manipulable to believe these wicked lies and vile propaganda.

One of such songs ran thus: Wɔ dze ewi ahεnkyew no asua Nkrumah Wɔ dze ewi ahεnkyew no asua Nkrumah Wɔ nhuro no wɔ Guinea kwan mu hɔ Saana εwia! εwia! εwia! Saana εwia! εwia! εwia! To wit: The crown of thievery has been placed on the head of Kwame Nkrumah.

Hoot at him in Guinea, for he is a thief! a thief! a thief! He was accused of embezzling millions of pounds, and left Ghana a debt of240 million pounds. Such an abominable miasma! Was Kwame Nkrumah a thief?

Did he steal our money and lodge it in foreign Bank accounts like some African Heads of State did? Did he build mansions? Did he plunder the resources of this country for his personal benefit?

An obvious no! And this was the noble, selfless and dedicated man who was vilified and demonised by his detractors to suit their whims and caprices. Dear reader, it will be surprising to learn that Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah did not even build one house for himself let alone his family.

Pathetically, when his wife, Madam Fathia Nkrumah came to Ghana with her children for the burial of her late husband at Nkroful in the Western Region, it was the then Head of State, General Acheampong and his government that housed her and the children in an estate house at Labone, Accra.

Responding to such vile propaganda and “stupid” lies, he stated in his last broadcast after the coup in 1966 thus:

 “…………………open your eyes and look around you. See for yourselves the splendid New Town Harbour, the mighty Volta Dam, the fine roads which we have built under the leadership of the CPP and the government, the Schools, Colleges, the Universities, the Hospitals, Clinics, Health Centres and the facilities which are springing up. These are no debts; they are investments in our future as an independent nation…………..”.

It must be stated that Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah had an inextinguishable spirit of passion for the socio-economic development of Ghana. He was far ahead of his time, but we did not understand him. Today, history has absolved him.

“MAN OF THE MILLENUM”

It is, therefore, not surprising that in apparent recognition of his positive contribution to the African liberation struggle, in the year 2000 he was voted African “MAN OF THE MILLENUM” by listeners to the B.B.C World Service.

The BBC further described him as a “Hero of independence” and an “International Symbol of freedom and leader of the first black African country to shake off the chains of colonial rule”.

His philosophy, ideas and ideologies are still relevant to the political, social and economic development of Ghana and the entire black world. The greatest tribute that we can pay him is for us to imbibe the culture of discipline, patriotism and hardwork in the context of the realisation of our national aspirations.  …to be continued

The writer is a Former Regional Director

Ghana National Service Scheme

Takoradi.

By Ken Gyenfi