Government to develop Nkrumah's works into audio-visuals

Accra, Jan 14, GNA - Vice President John Mahama on Thursday said the next phase of the First President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah's centenary celebration would include the development of his works into audio-visuals and documentaries.

"We are thinking of converting all his speeches, writings and other intellectual works into DVD versions in order to make it available to researchers, archivists; the general public and posterity." The Vice President said this when he received a cheque for $10,000 from Acess Bank in support of the Kwame Nkrumah centenary celebrations. He said the comprehensive programme for the centenary celebration was a big project that could go beyond the budgetary confines of the government and, therefore, commended the Bank for making such an amount available for the project.

Vice President Mahama appealed to corporate bodies and philanthropists to support the second phase of the celebration that would not only immortalize the Osagyefo The President as a great Ghanaian leader, but also as an African freedom fighter who had championed Pan-Africanism. Prof Akilakpa Sawyerr, Chairman of the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Celebration Committee, said a week would be used in the celebration of this year's Independence Day.

He said the week-long celebrations would begin on February 28 to mark the Osu Cross-Road Shooting Incident. There would be public lectures, quiz programmes throughout the country with a national one on March 6 2010.

Prof Sawyerr said monuments and documentaries on Former President Nkrumah would also be developed to give the youth an insight into the activities of the Osagyefo.

Mr Sebastian Asem, Head of Corporate Banking of Acess Bank, said the donation formed part of the social responsibility of the Bank.