Accra, May 15, GNA - The Convention People's Party has launched its plans for celebration of the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary. The National Chairman of CPP, Ladi Nylander confirmed this on Friday when the Chairman of the Centenary Planning Committee, Mr Kojo Armah presented their report to him.

A statement signed by Mr Nylander and Mr Armah said the CPP aimed to make this centenary celebration a time for reflection on Kwame Nkrumah's life and its impact on our nation and continent. "But more importantly key events of the celebrations will signal to the youth of today, the relevance of Kwame Nkrumah's message of selfless dedication in the pursuit of prosperity and national unity for Ghana and African people's at large.," it said. The statement noted that today more than ever, the future of our youth in Ghana and Africa was inextricably linked with the fortunes of the human race on a global scale.

"However our position as African people in the global market place has never been so precarious. "With less than one per cent of Global Foreign Direct Investment for the entire continent, our individual countries have felt the persistence of denial of investment deepen as its flow has reduced. "That notwithstanding the potential impact of losing millions of jobs now and more in the future, beckons us to wake up to the possibility of a continent that may slip into perpetual slumber, as if in hibernation."

The CPP said Africa must wake up now to its true potential and Ghana must step up once again to its mantle as bearer of the torch that lit the way forward into the future. It said there was no better time and moment to do this than on the centenary of the original torch bearer himself, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The CPP said the seeds of discord, mistrust and prejudice that had plagued our memory for so long must be purged once and for all if we are to realize our true potential as a nation that is united in the pursuit of a common destiny.

Highlights of the year long Centenary celebrations will include the 37th anniversary of the death of the Osagyefo on April 27, the 60th anniversary of the founding of the CPP on June 12, 2009, the Centenary anniversary September 21, 2009.

Other events a School Debates and Quiz. National- with prizes which could include scholarships, Library books, PCs, among other things, a cultural festival - to include re-enactment of turning points in our national life that revolve around the life and times of Kwame Nkrumah, reprinting and procurement of Nkrumah's books for wide distribution and International football matches involving local teams and teams from countries chosen for both historical and geographical relevance to Ghana Other events would be flag raising ceremony - at the mausoleum and at Nkroful in the first week in September, Gala Dinner/Dance - at a Banquet to honour the founding father and elders of the party and photo exhibition on Nkrumah - Life and works in the regions. It said the grand finale of the Centenary Celebrations will culminate in a Pilgrimage to Nkroful on Sunday 20th to 21 September. "At this festival a planning committee will be launched to prepare for the proper funeral of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah that will coincide with the 40th anniversary of his death in 2012," the CPP said.