Cape Coast, Feb. 12, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Friday called on the Planning Committee of the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Celebrations to galvanize the energies of the youth to continue with the uncompleted ideals of Nkrumah.

He noted that the youth played a significant role during Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah's struggle to secure independence and foster development for Ghana and the entire African continent. "I believe it is only fair that we follow those steps to succeed", the Vice President said when he launched the first of 10 Regional series of campus lecturers to be delivered throughout the country at the University of Cape Coast (UCC).

The lectures are meant to commemorate the ideals, concepts and themes of Dr Nkrumah in the struggle for independence as part of his centenary celebration.

Vice President Mahama reiterated calls for the Nkrumaist ideals to be incorporated into the school's curriculum to enable students to study about his goals, visions and ideologies.

He recalled the humble beginnings of Dr Nkrumah and indicated that that was never a hindrance against his pursuit for higher education and urged the youth that no matter one's background, with quality education, it was possible to attain greater heights.

Vice President Mahama announced that heads of states of African Union member countries as well as old friends of Nkrumah are expected in the country to climax the Centenary Celebration in May and called on Ghanaians to offer their maximum support for its success. "Nkrumah's personal friends and cronies such as Kenneth Kaunda, Sam Nujoma and all Pan-Africanists would all be in the country to participate in the Centenary celebrations" he emphasized.

He said the Central Region had memorable historical relics and tourist attractions and served as the central point of Nkrumah's struggle for independence, hence the beginning of the lectures in Cape Coast. He commended the Planning Committee for their commitment and sacrifice in ensuring maximum participation.

"I want to further urge the Planning Committee to let the image of Nkrumah and what he actually stood for to emerge in the series of lectures and other programmes to serve as a reference point even beyond the celebrations," he said.

Professor Akilakpa Sawyer, Chairman of the Centenary Planning Committee announced that other programmes lined up included film shows, drama and cultural activities and called on all partners as well as collaborators to give of their best.

In a lecture, Mrs Esi Sutherland Addy, a member of the Centenary Committee and a lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, urged Africans to be passionate about their own history and the totality of their lives as Africans as Nkrumah sought to inculcate in them. She noted that Nkrumah was determined to eliminate illiteracy in the country and therefore built so many schools from basic to the tertiary level.

Dr Nasser Gamal Adams, also a lecturer at the University of Ghana, deplored what he termed the "exploitative symbiotic relationship" between the African continent and "imperialists" or the western world. He said paradoxically, Africa is poor because it is rich and that its riches have rather caused its woes and pointed out that capitalist system had rather created excessive wealth for the West while it has generated increased squalor and poverty in Africa.

Dr Adams stressed that currently there is a new "colonialist elites" who together with their imperialists' partners were plunging the rich resources of the continent such as gold, diamonds and oil. He urged all Africans to unite and forge a common front to deal with issues confronting them to help better their lot.

Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang Vice-Chancellor of UCC, who chaired the function, said Dr Nkrumah has made a positive impact on many lives and mentioned education and research as some of his ideals.

She challenged academicians to make education relevant to the needs of society and also urged Africans to believe in themselves, be innovative and build their confidence to stamp out stereotyping others.