It’s Ghana’s shame to denigrate Nkrumah when the whole world honours him as African of the Century – Asiedu Nketiah

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) National Chairman, Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, has expressed outrage over attempts to belittle the legacy of Ghana's revered first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah. In a recent address at the inauguration of the Nkrumah Fest, an event spearheaded by MP for Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Mr Nketiah emphasized that such behavior was unacceptable, particularly when the world recognizes Dr Nkrumah as the African of the Century.

Mr Nketiah commended the MP for launching the festival, stating that it aimed to rectify the shame brought onto the nation through denigration of Dr Nkrumah's image, name, and legacy. He lamented that this was particularly disheartening, as the rest of Africa and the entire world had acknowledged Dr Nkrumah's exceptional contributions.

The NDC leader shared a personal anecdote that transformed him into an ardent supporter of Dr Nkrumah. He recounted being rescued from the streets by the Young Pioneers, a precursor to Ghana's National Youth Service Corps, when other children were at school. This intervention led to his enrollment in formal education, facilitated by the introduction of free compulsory universal basic education under Dr Nkrumah's administration.

This life-changing experience fueled his passion for studying Dr Nkrumah's works and preserving his legacy.

Mr Nketiah passionately argued that Dr Nkrumah deserved unique recognition for unifying the territories that formed modern Ghana. He highlighted that prior to Dr Nkrumah's emergence in the political arena, the Gold Coast colony, the Ashanti Kingdom, the Northern Territories, and Trans-Volta Togoland were distinct entities. He underscored that no other politician or nationalist could be compared to the singular Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.