The 2024 Vice Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and former Energy Minister, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has paid tribute to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, urging Ghanaians to draw valuable lessons from his life and contribution to the country and Africa.
Dr Opoku Prempeh made the remarks when he joined dignitaries, traditional leaders, political actors and other participants at this year’s Nkrumahfest at Nkroful in the Western Region, the hometown of the late former president.
The event provided an opportunity to commemorate Dr Nkrumah’s life, reflect on his contribution to Ghana’s independence and development, and celebrate the ideals he championed during his political career.
In his tribute, Dr Opoku Prempeh acknowledged Dr Nkrumah’s significant contribution to Ghana and the African continent, particularly his role in the country’s independence struggle and his efforts to advance the vision of a united and self-reliant Africa.
He described Dr Nkrumah’s legacy as an important part of Ghana’s history, noting that the impact of his leadership and ideas continues to generate discussions and reflections across generations.
According to Dr Opoku Prempeh, Ghanaians should be prepared to learn from Dr Nkrumah’s work and achievements regardless of their political affiliations.
He stressed that political differences should not prevent citizens from recognising the contributions of historical figures to the development of the country.
The former Energy Minister noted that Ghana’s political traditions may differ significantly, but the country’s shared history provides common ground for citizens to reflect on the achievements, challenges and experiences of previous leaders.
He therefore called for a broader and more objective appreciation of Ghana’s history, arguing that lessons from the past could help shape the country’s development in the present and future.
Dr Opoku Prempeh also underscored the importance of preserving the memory of Ghana’s founding generation and ensuring that subsequent generations understand the sacrifices and efforts that contributed to the country’s emergence as an independent nation.
He encouraged Ghanaians to study the achievements as well as the shortcomings of past leaders and use the lessons to contribute to national development.
Dr Kwame Nkrumah played a central role in Ghana’s independence struggle and led the country to independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957.
He became Ghana’s first Prime Minister following independence and subsequently became the country’s first President when Ghana became a republic in 1960.
Beyond Ghana, Dr Nkrumah became one of the leading advocates of Pan-Africanism and played a prominent role in efforts towards African unity and the liberation of other African countries from colonial rule.
His vision of African political and economic independence, as well as his emphasis on industrialisation and national development, has continued to influence political and intellectual debates across the continent.
Nkrumahfest, held at Nkroful, provides an annual platform for remembering the former president and reflecting on his contribution to Ghana’s political history and Africa’s liberation.
Dr Opoku Prempeh’s participation also highlighted the cross-party relevance of Dr Nkrumah’s historical legacy, particularly at a time when discussions about Ghana’s political history continue to attract interest across the country.
He maintained that political disagreements should not prevent people from identifying useful lessons from the country’s past.
The former minister therefore encouraged citizens, particularly younger generations, to engage with Ghana’s history and draw inspiration from the experiences of previous leaders while working towards a more prosperous and united country.
By 1960news.com
