Once upon a time in Ghana, Ex service men marched to Christianburg castle, to petition the English governor about their sorry lot. 3 men were shot dead. Adjetey, Attipoe and Lamptey-honor be to their names.
This would intensify local agitations and catalyze demonstrations for self government which culminated in the English having to cede power and granting independence to Ghana. Being the first country south of the Sahara to gain independence, it was a beacon of hope for the rest of black Africa, and the black Diaspora.
The first Leader Kwame Nkrumah – being a pan Africanist, saw the independence meaningless unless the entire continent was as totally liberated. So it burdened itself with the responsibility of assisting black African states in their liberation struggle, in the vanguard of African emancipation . To inspire and stir a continental drive for political liberation. THE WORLD WAS WATCHING!
Among other gestures – more out of responsibility to the continent than of charity – Ghana saw to the return of Patrice Lumumba to Leopoldville, and sent troops to defend the independence of countries like Congo , established a continental radio station – The external service of Radio Ghana – that could be heard throughout Africa and beyond to help promote the liberation struggle, and set up the Africa Bureau and The Encyclopedia Africana projects in Accra.
Ghana thus, through its advocacy of Pan Africanism, assisted in the attainment of independence by so many African territories within so short a period. THE WORLD WAS WATCHING.
It is Ghana, that created a safe haven for freedom fighters such as Nnamdi Azikiwe, Ras Thomas Makonnen, and American expatriates including Maya Angelou, Preston King,Muhammed Ali, and Julian Mayfield. IT HAD TO BE GHANA!
Ghana then possessed the best civil service in black Africa, with much more than a hard core of talented and well educated officials. Supplying one third of the world’s cocoa, and being its fifth exporter of Gold – it was seen as the ‘model colony’. So much inspiration, as well as expectations. THE WORLD TOOK NOTE.
So when WEB Dubois and wife Shirley Graham decided to move and settle with his family…When Robert and Sarah Lee wanted to re-settle with their family…When Dr. Hurtson decided to resettle – IT HAD TO BE IN GHANA!
Maya Angelou proclaimed, “whiles the rest of the world has been improving technology, Ghana has been improving the quality of Man’s humanity to Man.” – it was a reaffirmation of Ghana’s essential role on the African continent, black race, and the human race. – THE WORLD HEARD IT!
Need I remind us that, the first African critic to ever demand for the total abolition of the slave trade and emancipation of slaves – Quobna Ottoban Cuguano – was from Gold Coast? The black race took NOTE AND appreciated IT, THE REST OF THE WORLD WATCHED.
MY POINT
You see, this was a nation of black people, run by black people. The hope for the rest of black Africa and Africans in the Diaspora. In fact the entire black race. If Ghana succeeded the rest of black Africa would succeed. If black Africa succeeded the black Diaspora had hope.
This has been the history of Ghana, and it is one to be proud of. This has been the destiny and the curse of Ghana, to be the pacesetters, the liberators, that loud voice!
A destiny of courage with glory and not cowardice and mediocrity. What Ghana needs, indeed what Africa needs, is not despair but prepare ourselves for the future, with the conviction that, in this brave new era, the people of Ghana must occupy the driver’s seat.
Establish ownership and provide the leadership of our own development, and that of the continent, directing the recovery and transformation process of our governance and democracy with a purposeful determination to be masters of our own destiny. And we must be man enough to do it and make it happen in this generation.
One thing I would like to say on this day, which may be memorable to others as well as Ghanaians is: this country – Ghana – has come of age! The foundations of Ghana’s democracy have been firmly laid! And on August 29, we Ghanaians will once again be in a position to tell the world, the black star of Africa, infact the blackest star of Africa shines on.
So friends, don’t lose sleep at all over the fear of an impending unrest!
Only a foolish politician, will presume we’ll sacrifice this history and honor for an inordinate parochial interest. And whosoever attempts such: we shall brew him the devils drink.
