By Elsie Appiah-Osei
Accra, Aug. 1, GNA – As Ghana commemorates the enduring legacy of Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the nation’s first President and founder, leaders and citizens have been urged to move beyond ceremonial tributes and critically assess how faithfully the country is pursuing his vision of Pan-Africanism, self-reliance and industrial transformation.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Member of Parliament for Ellembele and Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said honouring Dr Nkrumah’s legacy required more than laying wreaths at his memorial or delivering speeches.
“It requires building upon the foundations he laid and advancing the ideals he dedicated his life to,” Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said at the official launch of NKRUMAH FEST ’26 in Accra on the theme: “Freedom and Justice.”
“Honouring Dr Nkrumah’s legacy is not merely about paying tribute with fine words. It is about building upon the foundations he laid and advancing the vision he dedicated his life to,” the MP added.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah called for greater focus on education and the economy, which he described as two pillars central to Dr Nkrumah’s nation-building agenda.
On education, he questioned whether Ghana’s schools were producing “agents of liberation, innovation and progress” or preparing the next generation for “dependence and subjugation.”
Touching on the economy, the Minister echoed Dr Nkrumah’s warning against serving external interests at the expense of national development.
He questioned whether Ghana was still exporting raw materials with little value addition or effectively harnessing its resources to create jobs, industries and prosperity for its people.
“Are we creating an economy that truly serves our people, or are we continuing to serve distant interests while neglecting our own?” he asked.
Mr Armah-Kofi Buah also acknowledged Dr Nkrumah’s physical legacy, including roads, schools, hospitals and industries that continue to support national development.
He said Dr Nkrumah’s greatest legacy lived on in the spirit of Ghanaians “who dare to dream beyond their circumstances and believe in the limitless potential of this nation.”
Ahead of the pilgrimage to Nkroful, Dr Nkrumah’s birthplace, scheduled for September 14 to 20, 2026, he urged citizens to view the journey not as tourists visiting a historic site but as patriots reconnecting with the nation’s source of inspiration.
“As we journey to Nkroful, let us march with pride, honour his sacrifices, and teach our children to speak his name with reverence and gratitude,” the MP stated.
The September activities at Nkroful will feature music, cultural performances, art exhibitions and historical reflections on the life and legacy of Dr Nkrumah.
The launch ended with a call on Ghanaians to reflect honestly on four key ideals championed by Dr Nkrumah: self-reliance, national unity, industrial transformation and African dignity.
“The answer to that question will determine whether we are merely remembering his legacy or truly fulfilling it,” Mr Armah-Kofi Buah said.
The call comes at a time when national discourse continues to focus on value addition, industrialisation and African integration, issues that were central to Dr Nkrumah’s vision of a united and prosperous continent.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
Reporter: Elsie Appiah-Osei
Email: [email protected]