Ghanaian historian Kwaku Darko Ankrah argues that while Ghana has made some progress since the death of its first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, many of his legacies have been destroyed.
During an interview on Rainbow Radio 87.5FM’s Nyankonton Mu Nsem, Mr Ankrah pointed out that Nkrumah was a visionary leader who established numerous factories to make Ghana self-sufficient in various sectors. However, these initiatives have gradually failed since his death.
Ankrah highlighted Nkrumah’s efforts to make Tema an industrial hub, citing the establishment of the Tema Steel Works, the Tema Harbour, and the Accra-Tema Motorway to boost trade and transportation.
He also noted the focus on food processing to utilize Ghana’s agricultural products, which led to the creation of the Nsawam Cannery, the Wenchi Tomato Factory, the Pwalugu Tomato Factory, the Zuarungu Meat Factory, the State Distilleries Corporation, and the Komenda Sugar Factory.
Nkrumah’s industrialisation drive didn’t stop there. He also established the Abosso Glass Factory, the Bonsa Tyre Factory, the Kumasi Shoe Factory, and the Kade Match Factory. Other notable ventures included Akosombo Textiles Limited and the GIHOC Fibre Products Company, which produced sacks for cocoa and other agricultural goods. Nkrumah also founded the Ghana Black Star Line shipping company and Ghana Airways Corporation.
He laments that the majority of these factories have been dismantled. He argues that successive leaders have failed to preserve Nkrumah’s legacy. As a result, he claims foreigners have taken over Ghanaian markets, repatriating profits to their home countries and creating a crisis of surging unemployment with no tangible solutions.
Mr. Ankrah expressed concern that the country has reached a point where greed, partisan politics, and selfishness have replaced a spirit of nationalism.
Celebrating the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah is in order and should not be scrapped, he asserted.
He recognised that while other individuals contributed to the fight for Ghana’s independence, Nkrumah was the key figure whose efforts led to independence on March 6, 1957.
“Celebrating Kwame Nkrumah does not undermine the efforts of the other freedom fighters,” he added, “but he was the key personality who led the fight, so recognising his efforts is in order.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
