Kenyan Pan-Africanist and scholar, Prof. Patrick Lumumba, has called on Africans to uphold the vision of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, for a united and dignified Africa.
He said Nkrumah understood that Africa’s political independence could only be sustained through unity and collective action among African countries.
Prof. Lumumba made the call at the 2026 Nkrumafest held at Nkroful under the theme, “Nkrumah @ 117: Celebrating His Enduring Legacy – Africa Must Unite or Perish.”
He described Nkrumah as one of the most influential Africans to have lived, saying his ideas continued to resonate across the continent and among people of African descent around the world.
Prof. Lumumba recalled Nkrumah’s efforts to promote African unity, including his role in the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1963.
He said Nkrumah consistently warned that without unity among African countries, external forces that had previously colonised the continent could return in different forms.
The Convener of Nkrumafest 2026 and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, urged Ghanaians to use the celebration to reflect on Nkrumah’s contribution and renew their commitment to his ideals.
He said Nkrumafest should not be reduced to a ceremony of remembrance but should provide an opportunity to assess whether Ghana and Africa were building the society Nkrumah envisioned.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah cited major projects associated with Nkrumah’s era, including the Akosombo Dam, Tema Harbour, Adomi Bridge and universities, as examples of long-term investments intended to serve future generations.
Former Vice President and former Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, also described Nkrumah as a generational thinker, liberation icon and key figure in Ghana’s nation-building.
He said Nkrumah’s legacy transcended generations and deserved recognition beyond partisan political differences.
Dr Opoku Prempeh acknowledged that Ghanaians would continue to disagree over governance, economic policies and the pace of development, saying such disagreements were part of democracy.
However, he said some individuals had made foundational contributions to Ghana that should be recognised beyond partisan political divisions.
Meanwhile, Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, acknowledged the sacrifices her father made for Ghana and Africa.
She expressed regret over the family’s long absence from public commemorations of his legacy, explaining that the family had been deeply affected by the circumstances surrounding Nkrumah’s political downfall and its aftermath.
Ghana|Atinkaonline.com|Cynthia Akans
