Well howdy to youuuu. Trust all is well with you guys. Interesting this…what you might ask, I and many like me are in a rather interesting place, we are citizens of both the first sub-saharan African country to gain independence as well as the last, we are citizens of one of the poorer nations on this continent as well as one of the richest, we are of one of the warmest and most accepting nations and also one of the most violent and xenophobic. Very interesting place I tell you and trust you me I would have it no other way.

50 years ago to this week, 6th March 1957 to be exact, Dr Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, stood on the independence square and uttered these words "Ghana your beloved country is Free forever… We again re-dedicate ourselves in the struggle to emancipate other countries in Africa, for our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of the African continent " “Osagyefo" - means "saviour" in the Akan language.

So who was this man they called the ‘the saviour/victorious one”? He was born in a town in Ghana called Nkroful on 21st Sept 1909. He left the Gold Coast in 1935 and headed for the USA. Between 1935 and 1943, he received a BA, MSc in Eduation and a MA in philosophy. He spent a lot of his time in the States preaching and read about divinity and philosophy.

In 1947 he made his way back to Ghana (then Gold Coast) as a result of an invitation to serve as the general secretary to the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), the purpose of this convention was to explore avenues for Ghana’s independence. In 1948 he and fellow senior members of UGCC were arrested following protests around the rising living costs many inhabitants of Ghana were experiencing. He was arrested in error and the British realised this and set him free.

His arrest was the catalyst in his quest for independence of the Gold Coast. It spurred him into action. He traveled extensively and his message was “self-govenrment…now!” He included women in his cry for a new democracy. In 1949 he set up a new party called The Convention Peoples Party. The first step was the redrafting of the constitution. Nkrumah along with representatives of youth groups, veterans, farmers and trade unions came with their suggestions on how the constitution should be drafted to serve the people. This was presented to the British rulers. The Colonials dismissed their request. So what happens when people feel hard done by, correct, protests…protests, civil disobedience, non-co-operation, boycotts and strikes something that was termed positive action. This call to action cost Nkrumah 3 years of his life behind bars. There was a lot of external pressure on the Brits to withdraw from the Gold Coast so in 1951 the first general election was held, an election Nkrumah won whilst still in jail. They won a majority 34 out of the 38 seats in the legislative assembly. He was released from jail on the 12 Feb 1951. He was asked by the then governor to lead the country to independence, a request he accepted with glee.

In 1952 the Brits withdrew and he took office in the office of the prime minister. As a leader of the government he learnt how to govern, create a unified nation and gain independence which happened on the 6th March 1957. 3 years in 1960 Ghana was declared a Republic

Like most other leaders the first few years of his term were all positive, built schools, developed welfare programs to alleviate poverty, got water to the people, tried to sort out the sanitation, built roads, bridges etc. What he was most famous for though was his promotion of pan Africanism (a movement to unify and uplift all native Africans or those of the African Diaspora) thanks largely to his association with the likes of Marcus Garvey, George Padmore and WEB du Bois. He was instrumental in the establishment of the OAU.

The plot went awry (like that word?) when he decided to turn his back on farming and production and focus more on the industrialisation of Ghana. A concept that was somewhat sound, but in this situation it was a case of cutting off your nose to spite your face. You see during this time Cocoa farming was big business and Ghana was producing plenty tons prices had risen by a multiple of 4 in 1954 alone, but instead of rewarding the farmers adequately he decided to siphon the profits into other avenues such as the Akosombo dam which currently is Ghana’s major source of electricity. His whole aim was to reduce Ghana’s dependence on western imports, but as with most good ideas, a lot of thought should be put into its execution and in this case as the current state of affairs in Ghana shows, there wasn’t too much thought that went into it.

This ‘industrial revolution’ that he had begun was to be the end of him. His popularity fell…naturally, take food out my mouth and I wont like u much boss. So what does a ruler who is under pressure do? In 1958 he introduced a law that made strikes illegal. He also became a tad paranoid so he introduced the Preventative Detention act, which would enable the detention and arrest of anyone based purely on suspicion they could be charged with treason without involving the courts. He started alienating his people particularly the union workers, telling them that there is now no place for strikes and looking for the best for the union workers. His focus was solely on the bosses on how best to use the resources to best achieve his vision of the industrialisation of Ghana.

Sad to say, but like most of African leaders, his good intentions became a selfish quest of what he believed to be right rather than a consultative process. No good ever comes of it. He plunged the country into much debt. His ‘subjects’ feared him…the end was neigh. In Feb 1966 whilst in China, a CIA backed military coup overthrew his government. Even though his end was not graceful, he did much good than bad. He set the ball in motion and the rest of the continent followed suit. He never returned to Ghana, he took refuge in Guniea, but died in Romania if I read correctly. He was in Romania seeking treatment for skin cancer. I went past his memorial tomb in Accra.

50 years on and where is Ghana? Where is the continent? Well I havent been back ‘home’ in about 4 years, but 4 years ago it was a nation rebuilding an economy buzzing, and apparently more so now. And long may it continue I say!

Today is Tuesday the 6th March, I am at work wearing my traditional gear. I heard there are many youngsters who did the same today. A true sign of patriotism which is pleasing to see. There are a lot of us here that have much to offer this continent. I am tired of the bad mouthing. Its not somebody else’s problem to fix this continent we call home. People are stealing, give them a job, how will they have time to steal. There is so much disease on this continent, well then start practicing safe sex yourself and teaching everyone else (thank u Thabang!), poverty is rife…feed someone, clothe someone, set up an education trust, teach people whats right whats wrong. Am I doing any of this not really and will I, I most definitely will try. I have put it out there in the public domain.

Its funny how sport can unify a people. In 1995 the script was written up above and played out on Ellis Park, I cant tell a lie I supported the opposition for other reasons, but I cant lie to you walking down main road towards my room to study for my accounting exam, I don’t think I could ever have been a prouder south african…the unification on the streets was bone chilling.

Same too with Ghana, ever since the soccer world cup last year, the youngsters have seen new faith in their country Ghana

Today I sit here a proud Ghanaian, South African, African! There is much this place has to offer us and us…it!!

Aluta Continua! It’s only the beginning.

Birthdays
4th Tebogo S and The Blankson sisters
5th Will M-Smith

That’s me for another week…

Maximum respect…

God bless our homeland Ghana
And make our nation great and strong,
Bold to defend forever
The cause of Freedom and of Right;
Fill our hearts with true humility,
Make us cherish fearless honesty,
And help us to resist oppressors' rule
With all our will and might evermore.
Hail to thy name, O Ghana,
To thee we make our solemn vow:
Steadfast to build together
A nation strong in Unity;
With our gifts of mind and strength of arm,
Whether night or day, in the midst of storm,
In ev'ry need, whate'er the call may be,
To serve thee, Ghana, now and evermore.
Raise high the flag of Ghana
And one with Africa advance;
Black star of hope and honor
To all who thirst for liberty;
Where the banner of Ghana free flies,
May the way to freedom truly lie;
Arise, arise, O sons of Ghanaland,
And under God march on for evermore!