Accra: President John Dramani Mahama utilized Ghana's 69th Independence Anniversary to honor Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the nation's founding President, for his pivotal role in the liberation struggle. "We cannot speak of Ghana's present without paying homage to our past. Sixty-nine years ago, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah proclaimed to the world that 'at long last the battle is ended and that Ghana, our beloved country, is free forever,'" President Mahama declared during the Independence Day celebration parade.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event, themed 'Building Prosperity, Restoring Hope,' was held at the Forecourt of the Presidency in Accra. The special guest of honor was Dr Terrance Michael Drew, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis, who attended with his wife, Diani Jinesha Prince-Drew. Other notable attendees included First Lady Lordina Mahama, Speaker Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, Chief Justice Paul Baffoe-Bonnie, along with former Presidents John Agyekum Kufuor and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
President Mahama emphasized Dr Nkrumah's role in fostering national consciousness and a continental purpose. He remarked that the movements initiated by the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and the Convention People's Party (CPP), along with numerous unsung heroes, significantly altered African history. The President also acknowledged other former leaders like General Joseph Arthur Ankrah and former President Jerry John Rawlings, highlighting their contributions to the country's development.
Mahama praised Ghana's enduring democracy, citing the nation's ability to peacefully transfer power and engage in healthy political competition as evidence of the maturity and wisdom of its people. He noted the importance of Dr Terrance Drew's visit, describing it as a historic reconnection between Ghana and its Caribbean counterparts, underscoring shared ancestral ties.
President Mahama reflected on the dark history of the transatlantic slave trade, with the Cape Coast and Elmina castles serving as reminders of the millions of Africans forcibly transported. He highlighted Ghana's efforts to seek historical justice and announced plans to submit a motion to the United Nations to declare slavery and the transatlantic slave trade the gravest crime against humanity.
In closing, President Mahama reiterated Ghana's leadership role in advocating for global justice and restoration, reaffirming the nation's position as a pioneer in the call for dignity and restitution.