Nkrumah Centenary Planning Committee outlines programme

Accra, Aug. 26, GNA - Professor Akilagpa Sawyerr, Chairman, Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Planning Committee, on Wednesday said the celebrations were planned around three clusters of activities and events. The clusters are Kwame Nkrumah's Birthday on September 21, Independence Day on March 6, and Africa Liberation Day on May 25. Outlining the programme at a press conference in Accra, Prof. Sawyerr said the celebrations, planned to bring together Ghanaians from all walks of life as well as African and international dignitaries, would extend from September 2009 to May 2010. He said in addition to these clusters, there would be a series of activities and events reflecting all aspects of the celebrations across the regions.

Prof. Sawyerr said the high point of the first cluster of events would be a grand pageant and durbar of Ghanaians and African peoples to be held at the Independence Square on September 21. He said although the committee initially submitted a proposed budget of GH¢18 million for the celebrations and capital development projects, government committed GH¢2 million as seed money due to financial constraints.

Prof. Sawyerr said to supplement the resources made available by government, a fund-raising and sponsorship campaign had been launched and was kicked off by a Centenary Celebrations Sponsorship Dinner last Monday, adding that further fund-raising activities are planned over the coming weeks.

".Noting the limited resources and time available for planning and implementation, the committee outlined a wide range of programme ideas to complement its minimalist programme, should there be sufficient resources and implementation capacity," he added. The committee was inaugurated on June 2, 2009 with a task of developing, organizing and supervising the implementation of a programme for the celebration of the centenary of the birth of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, first president of Ghana.