African leaders last Saturday honoured the memory of the founder and first President of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, with the unveiling of his magnificent statue at the forecourt of the imposing African Union (AU) building in Addis Ababa.
On hand to perform the unveiling ceremony in the Ethiopian capital was President John E vans Atta Mills.
He was assisted by the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Dr Jean Ping; the President of Equatorial Guinea and Chairman of the AU, Mr. Teodore Obiang Nguema; former President Jerry John Rawlings and other Heads of State and Government.
Other who were there to grace the occasion were Professor Francis Nkrumah, eldest son of Dr Nkrumah and Ms Samia Nkrumah, the only daughter of Dr Nkrumah, who is also the chairperson of the Convention People’s Party.
The unveiling of the statue formed part of an elaborate programme to inaugurate the new AU Conference Centre and office complex funded by the Chinese government.
The august audience which witnessed the ceremony rendered thunderous applause as President Mills unveiled the huge bronze statue of the illustrious son of Africa.
Dr Nkrumah led Ghana to independence on March 6, 1957, after nearly a century of British colonial rule.
He is regarded as one of Africa’s greatest statesmen. In December 1999, BBC listeners on the continent voted him as “Africa’s Man of the Millennium’’.
In 1978, the United Nations awarded Dr Nkrumah a posthumous gold medal during a session of the UN committee against the racist regime in South Africa.
Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Dr Ping paid glowing tribute Dr Nkrumah for his vision for Africa, saying the need to honour him was long overdue.
Prof. Nkrumah described the occasion as a great honour to Dr Nkrumah’s family and the people of Ghana and Africa.
"We feel overwhelmed by the honour. This is an indication that Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s spirit and ideals still live. What drove him to tread his path will drive all of us,’’ he said.
Ms Nkrumah said the ‘’whole family feels humbled, delighted and honoured to participate in this great occasion’’.
She said the programme by the AU was a powerful recognition of Dr Nkrumah’s ideals and conviction.
She said in a situation where trade within Africans amounted to only 10 per cent, there was the urgent need for leaders to work in the spirit of patriotism to improve the lives of their people.
"It is a passion. We are proud as Ghanaians and Africans and we must do the outmost to improve the lives of the majority of the people,’’ she said.
A Senior Presidential Staffer, Dr Don Arthur, said Dr Nkrumah’s statue had served as a reminder of the tragedy that Ghana went through, saying,
“All now know Dr Nkrumah’s invaluable contributions to Africa’s emancipation struggle.’’
"This is the statue we destroyed in Ghana years ago but which is being recognized and celebrated by the whole continent,’’ he said.
He said the statue symbolised Dr Nkrumah’s importance, stressing, ‘’ It is our duty to help the AU to unite Africa.
Source: Daily Graphic




