Africa must celebrate Nkrumah(Centre spread) October 18, 2008

Story:Michael Donkor
THE Nigerian High Commissioner in Accra, Senator Musiliu Mohammed Obanikoro, has called for the celebration of the life of Dr Kwame Nkrumah among all Africans and not just in Ghana.
He said Dr Nkrumah’s vision and ideas influenced lives across Africa and Africans in the diaspora hence, the need for the celebration of his life to be observed throughout world.
Speaking at the launch of a book entitled “Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the Legend of African nationalism” in Accra last Thursday, Senator Banikoro described the late Ghanaian leader as the hero of African liberation.
The Author of the book, Prof. Martin Okany said he was inspired to write the book because of the great virtues he found in Dr Nkrumah as well as his vision and ideas.
He said although Dr Nkrumah was dead, Africans can draw inspiration from his words that “as far as I am concerned, I am happy in the knowledge that not even death can extinguish the torch which I have lit in Ghana and Africa. Long after I am dead and gone, it would continue to burn, giving light and guidance to all the people”.
Prof. Okany said the history of modern Africa could not be conclusively written without the immense contribution of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
He said Dr Nkrumah manifested the pride and dignity of the black man everywhere and was a catalytic force that set into motion ripples that had reshaped the political history of Africa.
In his words, “Dr Nkrumah was a revolutionary genius and a political volcano who encouraged national liberation and anti-colonialist movements across Africa.”
A senior Lecturer at the Political Science Department of the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr Ansa Kumi-Koi described the book as an encyclopaedia.
He said the book gives an account of the independence of Ghana and sums up the books that Dr Nkrumah had written himself.
He said the book was not just a history book but also offered valuable material about the present and the 21st century.
Dr Ansa-Koi said it is a comprehensive book which contained letters Nkrumah wrote and covered the history of Ghana and its life history.
He suggested that in subsequent publications, an index should be included in the book for easy reference.
A retired Diplomat, Mr K.B Asante, who chaired the occasion said the time had come for Africans to liberate their minds.
He said Africans should not see themselves as inferior adding that Africans are capable of doing greater things had been estimated by the imperialist.