A country which does not recognize the role of her heroes is unworthy of dying for. This axiom demands that we carve a special place in our hearts for those persons whose efforts alongside others achieved for us as a people an important milestone such as independence from our colonial masters in the face of great odds.
In the past few months, the controversy surrounding the history of the founding of modern Ghana had raged albeit unnecessarily.
The subject has taken various interpretations as it is with important chapters of history. The various authors of the entries in the history of the Gold Coast, or Ghana, have conflicting narrations of the journey to independence.
Whatever their interpretations of the story against the backdrop of the subsequent decision by President Akufo-Addo to have two separate holidays for the first president and the founders in our opinion is a wise step as we posited in a previous commentary.
Although it has not completely doused the fire surrounding the subject we think that it is an appropriate response, since especially no one person in most countries of the world can claim the sole responsibility for their founding. Julius Nyerere, Amilcar Cabral and a few others fit into this bracket of founders of their individual countries. Not so Ghana where a joint action based on a previous foundation was responsible for our political feat.
Kwame Nkrumah as a continental icon or even global is a fact of political history which any attempt at erasing would be a travesty, but it is proper that we narrate the truth and nothing but the truth.
It is on this score that we are celebrating this man who was born on 21st September 1909 in Nkroful. As it is with great personalities, no comets heralded his birth even as he was destined to leave a political legacy for not only Ghana but the international community.
It is as important that we study and celebrate his life history and contribution to our political development as it is others who laid the foundation for the eventual goal of independence.
Unfortunately, however, on a day like this, we tend to concentrate more on partying than reflecting on the reason we are marking the day. The struggles of Kwame Nkrumah and what he wished for his beloved country after his arrival courtesy the chiefs of the United Gold Coast Convention must stand tall in our thoughts about his life.
It is important also to consider the conditions prevailing in the country culminating in the 24th February 1966 putsch. Such a contextual treatment of the subject would enable us to derive maximum dividends from the reflection. All did not go well in our post-independence history, hence the painful instabilities which greeted our story.
Ghana might be free forever from the shackles of Britain not so economically, as we continue to rely on handouts from the developed world to prop our budgets.
It is good to relish our political independence but when this competes with our economic dependence on our former colonial masters, then something is lacking.
In our reflections, we must consider how to achieve the dream of total independence economy et al from the apron strings of our colonial masters. Anything short of this would be meaningless.