Nkrumah stands tall no matter what you say - Former Senior Governance Advisor at the UN

Professor Baffour Agyeman-Duah, a former Senior Governance Advisor at the United Nations, has argued that regardless of his shortcomings, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of Ghana, remains the country’s most outstanding leader.

Addressing the ongoing debate about whether Kwame Nkrumah is the founder of Ghana, Professor Agyemang-Duah expressed the viewpoint that Ghana has seen no leader with the achievements and respect of Kwame Nkrumah.

According to him, while others played pivotal roles in the drive towards independence, Kwame Nkrumah stands tall because of how he led the fight and the lasting legacy he left.

Despite personal disagreements with some of Nkrumah's domestic policies, Professor Agyemang-Duah believes Nkrumah's contributions to Ghana's development merit full recognition.

“No matter what you say, Nkrumah stands tall in our politics, and nobody can belittle his accomplishments.

"Even though personally, as I speak, there were certain domestic policies that I never liked and still don’t like, but still, even after discounting all those negativities, Nkrumah is a person that deserves the fullest recognition. After all, he (Nkrumah) was the man of the millennium, and that in itself says it all."

“After all, they [UGCC] brought Nkrumah; perhaps even if they had not brought him, he was going to come himself. Yet he was brought down to help them achieve independence. How can you take that away?” he quizzed.

Meanwhile, President Akufo-Addo has defended his decision to establish August 4 as Founders’ Day, noting that Kwame Nkrumah alone cannot be credited with the formation of the country.

Speaking on the matter at the senior citizens' luncheon at the Jubilee House, President Akufo-Addo noted, "I know that there are some who question the ceremony – that is 4th August as Founders Day, because they believe that we were all asleep in Ghana until the arrival of Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP."

"I have already stated my views on that several times, including in my speech last Saturday evening. I don’t intend to go over that matter again," he said.

EK