Mr K. B. Asante, a retired Diplomat, on Friday reminded Ghanaians of Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s philosophy of not allowing the minority to impede the economic and social progress of the majority.
“Nkrumah believed that through their domination not only of the means of production and distribution but also the media, the minority should not be allowed to obstruct development,” Mr Asante stated at the climax of a five-day public lecture organised by the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) in Accra.
The lectures were to mark the 51 Founder’s Week harangue on the general theme: “Climate Change,” which was chaired by Professor Reginald Fraser Amonoo, GAAS President.
Speaking on the theme: “Nkrumah’s Political Philosophy and the Development of Ghana,” Mr Asante noted: “Nkrumah was human and he made mistakes but his achievements were great.
“His selflessness deserves emulation. His singleness of purpose demands attention. He has led us to create one nation with one destiny despite our bickering today.
“Nkrumah showed us that we can stand on our feet and demand respect from all; that Ghanaians can from the sweat of their brows and not from outside largesse, make this country strong, prosperous and great”.
Mr Asante, founder of erstwhile Social Democratic Front (SDF), said the first President translated his dream into reality not only through any ideological circle, but by recognizing the hard facts, taking advantage of situations, and creating conditions to make his dreams materialize.
“Dr Nkrumah realized early that the revolution he dreamed of could not be successful with the unsatisfactory state of education.
He therefore embarked on a programme for rapid capacity building beginning with elementary education for all at a time when facilities were woefully inadequate.
“Dr Nkrumah brushed criticisms aside and supported the use of untrained teachers. Criticisms about the inadequacy of other facilities did not dissuade him.
“By pushing through the accelerated and other educational programmes, Dr Nkrumah answered the yearning desire of the people of the Gold Coast. At the same time he laid the foundation for the realization of his vision of cities springing up in the new Ghana as Metropolis of Science, Learning, Scientific, Agriculture, Industries and Philosophy”.
He said the first President built the University of Science and Technology as a major organ for research and development while the problems in education were to be dealt with by the University of Cape Coast.
Other educational establishment includes training colleges, Ghana Medical School, which was built by Ghanaian academics.
Mr Asante noted that the problems, which ensued, have bedeviled Ghana’s education up to date because “we failed to solve them long after Nkrumah left the scene”.
He said Dr Nkrumah encouraged achievements by Africans to be publicized and sometimes even exaggerated.”Dr Nkrumah promoted the African Personality of a proud, confident people relying mainly on themselves to build on a past which had its glories and tribulations, to establish a bright future.
“In this regard, he set the example at the outset by regarding himself as a leader and behaving like a Head of State and Government of any major power. He never accepted any inferior status”.
Other sub-themes for the week were: “Climate Change Scenarios,” “Challenges to Human Survival,” “Climate Change and Human Health,” Climate Change and Agriculture,” “Policy Response to Climate and Food Security in Semi-arid Zones of Ghana,” and “The Way Forward”.
Source: GNA