“KENNEDY REMINDS US OF NKRUMAH”:- NKRUMAH NEVER DIES
“Nkrumah Never Dies” was one of the slogans typical among the Young Pioneer Movement, I heard. Concomitant to this statement were many negative sentiments against Nkrumah from the opposition then.
Some of us who never lived in those days have been torn between two factions-pro-Nkrumah and anti-Nkrumah. I must add, we have been torn between facts and fiction; and have never had it easy to decipher between what is false and what is the truth. Time now has vindicated Osagyefo as the best Ghanaian statesman of the 20th century.
The adage goes that, one cannot hide the truth for so long. Ere long it will come out no matter how long the lie may appear to be winning. Today, we have the privilege to look back into history, gather some facts and try to make some intelligent and objective judgments even in the face of massive propaganda still.
Looking at the facts, today, we can dare say that in spite of all the propaganda and the hullabaloo to wipe out Nkrumah from our history books, the very opposite is gathering momentum. Why? Perhaps it is all because the TRUTH never dies.
Despite the negative incantations against the Young Pioneer movement of old and all the doubts cast on its hero, Osagyfo, he still stands tall in the midst of all Africa’s historical and modern leaders. Nkrumah, indeed never dies; his legacy lives on!
What is going on here? Where are the African patriots who led the independent movements of their countries? Or where are those African presidents who purport to have studied the political history of their nations and promised to right the wrongs of the Pioneers? Have they been swallowed and drowned in the sea of selfishness and self glorification or what? Why are we not singing their praises anymore or ever did? At least, the statement, “Nkrumah Never Dies,” appears more real now than ever when we take a peak into the annals of Africa’s presidential history in general and Ghana’s presidents in particular.
Lest it may appear to be another political propaganda, let’s take a moment to examine the life of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Africa’s first republican president. Hopefully we can all stop the emotionalism and pay close attention to the facts.
EDUCATION
Education is the key to a country’s success. So let us begin with it. How does Nkrumah’s leadership compare to other African presidents? During his days, Nkrumah made Ghana’s educational system admirable and estimable not only among Africans but the world. Many Africans traveled far and near to obtain their education from Ghana. Those were the good old days when Legon was the premier university in Africa. Let’s narrow it to Ghana:
Look around and see the many primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.
Have there been any strong institutions built by any of the subsequent regimes?
What was the passing and success rate compared to other regimes?
How did the government of Nkrumah treat students?
Did Nkrumah see education as an investment worth supporting? You bet. Many of our politicians and pompous intellectuals today are products of Nkrumah’s educational benevolence. The first president was willing to sacrifice for the education of Ghana’s children and youth across the board, because to Nkrumah, education is the key to nation-building. Students were pampered then; including the many that now hold political power today; they never had to cook or think of what to eat or where to sleep; they never had to think of money to buy text books. In fact, I am even told by one of those beneficiaries that they had more than enough qualified teachers for every subject. For instance, a Physics class will have a teacher for all the major blocks-Light, Mechanics, Sound, etc. Not only that but they had snacks in between meals plus pocket allowances. Ghana then could prepare her students to face all the challenges of the business world. Ghanaians who left the boarders of Ghana for further studies always came up tops in their classes. There were no dropouts on the basis of incapacity, only by choice. No Ghanaian student was ill-prepared.
What has happened since Nkrumah was deposed?
The influx of population growth has not met any increase in educational facilities. Teachers are not only scarce commodities but the few who remained are under-paid or are always confronted with deferred payments/compensation. Some have not received any salaries for months. And this applies to all government employees of the lower working class. Yet politicians and executives are always receiving a raise plus other fringe benefits daily. These beneficiaries of Nkrumah’s benevolence (Free education) are now widening the gap to exclude the have-nots. Funny enough they always talk about educational reforms and spend mega amounts in meetings and consultation fees while children are left to study under trees with no text books; no food, and no shelter. Almost every two to three years Ghana’s leadership since Nkrumah pays for some educational reforms but we don’t see any improvements except worsening educational standards.
Above all, the educational structures Nkrumah left over have not only been added to but are not even maintained well. Compare the nine years achievement of Nkrumah to the other heads of state and make your own judgment. I cannot help to even come to think of the fact that the master plans for Ghana’s higher institutions like Legon and UST have been compromised. Rather than expanding and or funding our higher institutions of learning, subsequent regimes have deemed it okay to sell university lands to individuals to build homes while some of her lecturers are homeless. One would cry if he/she revisits the blue prints of Legon, Cape Coast University, Winneba Teachers College and UST. It’s just a shame on subsequent regimes.
HEALTH
Our hospitals were not death traps during Nkrumah’s era. There was adequate medication for all who were sick, at least to the standards of the time. The medical profession was respected and well funded. Name the regional hospitals and see how many were built under Nkrumah’s regime? Which of the other regimes including those who have been in power for almost two decades have put up any matching single medical facility in any of the regions? Yet in less than ten years Nkrumah either started or completed mega hospitals like Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Korlebu Teaching Hospital (not counting what was not completed). Note that whatever hospital Nkrumah would build would not be an ordinary kind but a world class. In fact every project Nkrumah embarked on was grandiose or international standard; because he was a man ahead of his time. Sadly, the Blue Prints of Nkrumah’s projects would be thrown away by subsequent heads of state.
By all standards Nkrumah, when compared to our subsequent heads of states in Ghana are not fit to be called leaders; unless we admit that Nkrumah was idealist and a world-class leader while his counterparts in Africa are just “village chiefs.” Nkrumah, for one, would never compare Ghana’s strength to any African country and settle for mediocrity like many of our leaders do today. The watch word for Nkrumah’s presidency was nothing less than Excellence. Where is the vision of Nkrumah? Where are the likes of Osagyefo? Are Africa’s leaders sleeping? Wake up Africa.
TRANSPORTATION
Commuting to work never used to be a problem for the masses. Public transport was vibrant. Some may argue that it is not the responsibility of the government to provide public transportation. But has any of Ghana’s presidents taken any keen interest in public transport as stake holders of the nation? What about easing the burden on the private sector to help meaningfully? All the subsequent regimes care about are their own luxury vehicles. Do they care how the ordinary worker gets to work? Nkrumah stands tall. I am yet to find out if Nkrumah cared more for the type of vehicles his ministers and parliamentarians would ride in more than making sure there was adequate public busing?
PROTECTING NATIONAL PROPERTY
How would any government compare with Nkrumah in maintaining public property? For the sake of time let me just pick one entity. How was Public Works Department (PWD) then and now? Today, our governments (since 1980s) have either mortgaged state houses (or bungalows) or neglected them. Yet each year a budget is allocated to them. Who spends those monies? Nkrumah would not preside over such neglect by any public officer.
PROVISION OF JOBS
Nkrumah was a champion of great industries for Ghana. His goal was job for every Ghanaian willing to work. He never deemed job creation a political propaganda or mere political rhetoric. He delivered the goods. There were more jobs than workers. Every graduate would have a meaningful job by the time he or she leaves school, even including drop outs. Today graduates, even those with first class honors, cannot find jobs. Our subsequent regimes have appropriated the jobs of the masses. At the same time our government(s) cry wolf and blame everything on brain drain.
Ghana’s leadership since Nkrumah has not added any industry to what Nkrumah left Ghana. However, (since the 1980s) Ghana’s leadership has managed to sell or mortgaged Nkrumah’s legacy for Ghana, without adding a penny to the state coffers. For example, Ghana’s longest regime of the 1980s to 2000 never added a single industry to what Nkrumah built but had the audacity to mortgage almost all of such industries BY 2000 under the pretest of probity and accountability. This regime started with the seizure of private businesses and ended with selling government enterprises. Yet they claim they made Ghana a better place. How hypocritical!
Thanks to subsequent regimes after Osagyefo, who have contributed in stealing jobs from the ordinary citizenry of Ghana, today poverty has become the watch word in Ghana. The few politicians and their cronies control the wealth of the nation. However, these tycoons would starve ‘the least of the brethren’ and put a dent in Ghana’s cherished family structure.
Poverty has made the Ghanaian desperate, reaching as far as the party foot soldiers (or grass-root- politicians) who do not have any political portfolios. Since there are no jobs drug peddling is becoming attractive. Politicians have or are creating the hardships that are forcing the fine individual Ghanaian to become corrupt and amoral. How can you talk about morality of the state when citizens are hungry and have no jobs?
OUR CHALLENGE
Reading the biography of Nkrumah sends strong hopes in the youth among the Presidential aspirants of the NPP, to wit, Dan Botwe, Frimpong-Boateng and Kennedy. I do not know Frimpong-Boateng and Dan Botwe personally but information reaching me suggests that all these gentlemen are result-oriented, - men of few words but full of action. I have also heard from very trustworthy source that these are fine gentlemen and that except for the mentality of the African which is rooted in seniority these would be excellent leaders to bring about the needed change in our country today just like Nkrumah did in the late 1950s through the mid 1960s. I hear Dan Botwe is not only industrious but very honest and morally upright.
As for Kennedy, I know him personally and can personally vouch for him that, HIS WORD CAN BE TRUSTED. Some one has remarked, “Kennedy reminds us of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah” of blessed memory. Kennedy is not only full of vision and energy like Osagyefo in his youthful days but even more; he respects the elders and can work peacefully and positively with both the young and the old. Our chiefs would even find him to be a delight to work with in shaping and revitalizing this cherished institution to benefit our nation. This time, not in mere naming of a ministry of Chieftaincy but ‘Chiefs for Progress and Restored Dignity.’ It is clear from the way Kennedy is running his campaign that he is not in for the loot. In fact, he is desperate to give back to his country.
Interestingly, the young ones among these aspiring candidates have not benefited much from the benevolence of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s regime, unlike the old ones, but it is rather these young ones like Botwe, Frimpong-Boateng and Kennedy who are desperate to restore the pride Osagyefo brought to Ghanaians all over the world. Let us give them the chance if we really love Osagyefo. These young folks have the moral courage to bring about change in Ghana like Osagyefo did.
We are all witnesses that as for the Established candidates, they are only bulldozing their weight through with their money, and buying delegates’ (people’s) consciences, but the young candidates are appealing to reason. Kennedy for one is appealing to the peoples’ consciences with ideas and strategies to make Ghana a middle income country in the 21st century. Hopefully, the delegates are waking up to question the motives behind the candidates who are trying to rob them of their consciences with money and fat envelopes. What next after you’ve finish chopping the $1000?
By choosing our next president based on ideas and vision, we shall be reiterating the saying that ‘Nkrumah Never Dies” because we would have respected and revitalized his vision and aspirations for Ghana. The status quo has not helped Ghana politically, socially and economically. Selling your votes has not given your kids any jobs so far. If I were a delegate entrusted with choosing our next president, I would not allow hand out to steal and rob my children’s future. Rather I would sacrifice the ONE TIME $1000 donation for my children’s future. I would pick a candidate who thinks and behave mainly like Nkrumah- although he came from nowhere he became the president for all. He placed Ghana on the world map and made Ghana a force to reckon with. Every Ghanaian then had some respect thanks to Nkrumah’s leadership.
Ghana needs a new blood of leadership; a Leadership with an agenda for the nation. The Establishment has proved over and over again since 1966 that development is not about royalty or maintaining the status-quo, buying votes or dishing out of money to delegates; but vision and ideas. Ghana needs pragmatic leadership not emotional leadership. Leadership is not about ‘nice personalities’- structure or beauty- but DIRECTION and VISION.
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