Nkrumah’s unfinished Pan-African project must be completed – P.L.O. Lumumba

Professor P.L.O. Lumumba is urging renewed dedication to the principles of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, emphasizing that Africa's political and economic independence is still incomplete. Speaking at a ceremony commemorating Nkrumah's 117th birthday, Lumumba highlighted Nkrumah's pivotal role in uniting Africa's liberation and promoting continental unity.

Born in Nkroful in the Gold Coast in 1909, Nkrumah later became Ghana's first Prime Minister and President and a key figure in the Pan-African movement. Lumumba stressed that Nkrumah's vision for Ghana's independence extended beyond the nation, aiming for the liberation and dignity of Africans across the continent. He noted that Ghana became a hub for African liberation movements, attracting leaders like Julius Nyerere, Milton Obote, Kenneth Kaunda, and others.

Lumumba pointed to major conferences held in Accra and Casablanca as evidence of Nkrumah's influence, warning that political independence without unity leaves African states vulnerable to external influence. He also mentioned the establishment of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) in 1963, a legacy of Nkrumah's efforts, and its role in preventing colonial domination.

Despite Nkrumah's overthrow in 1966, his ideas continued to inspire leaders like Thomas Sankara, who addressed the OAU summit in 1987. Lumumba stressed that Nkrumah's remains, after being buried in various locations, were finally laid to rest in Accra in 1992. He argued that Nkrumah's legacy demands a continued focus on African self-reliance, industrialization, and unity to address contemporary challenges in Africa, such as conflicts, terrorism, and economic dependence on foreign sources.