In celebration of Kwame Nkrumah’s Memorial Day, some Ghanaians have shared some fond memories they have of Ghana’s first President.
According to some people, he has undoubtedly contributed immensely to Ghana’s development which comprises of infrastructure, unfortunately most of the infrastructures constructed by the late Kwame Nkrumah were not properly maintained by successive governments.
“He had built good roads that have lasted for years such as the Accra-Tema motorway. The motorway currently do not have streetlights, because we do not maintain it well. A lot of his projects have been left unattended to by our current leaders,” one man noted.
He also received praises as the best president Ghana ever had with a sense a style. To most of them, it set him apart from other Ghanaian Presidents.
“Some structures he put in place long ago are still beneficial to Ghanaians today. He always comes to mind at the mention of the Akosombo Dam. His government was the best.”
“I remember when he wore the Batakari when he declared Ghana as an independent state with a white handkerchief in his hands. I wear Batakari a lot too.”
“People with similar hairstyle as Nkrumah are extremely brilliant and knowledgeable. Your head cannot be like that if you are small minded. He was a born leader,” another asserted.
In remembering the late Dr Kwame Nkrumah, many never forgot his most famous independence speech on March 6, 1957 as it was excitedly quoted, “I will always remember when he said ‘Ghana, my beloved country is free forever’,” one man said.
However, some are of the view that the manner in which Dr. Kwame Nkrumah governed the nation. To them he is not much of a hero as he is portrayed to be.
“Kwame Nkrumah saved and killed us at the same time. During his administration, Ghana was not indebted, so it was not surprising that he had enough resources available to put up the major structures in Ghana. He could have even done more,” a man remarked.
Dr. Nkrumah’s Memorial Day however, is to be observed on September 23 as declared by the Minister of Interior, Ambrose Dery.
"The President of the Republic of Ghana has by Executive Instrument (E.I)’ declared Monday, 23rd September 2019 as an additional Public Holiday to be observed as Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day throughout the country," he said.
