Tamale, Sept. 21, GNA - Mr. Stephen Sumani Nayina, the Northern Regional Minister, on Monday appealed to Ghanaians to use the occasion of the centenary of Osageyfo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to be fair in their judgment of all their past political leaders and acknowledge their contributions to the development of the country.

He said history had not been fair to the first President of the country because some historians had tried not only to diminish his contributions to the nation's development but also to demonize him and rewrite the history of his times. "Nkrumah was a good leader with foresight and vision. He was a leader far ahead of his time, Mr. Nayina said in an interview with the fully appreciate what he stood for and his achievements and that the greatest legacy Nkrumah gave to the people of Ghana was in education and industrialization.

He said but for Dr Nkrumah the north would have been far behind in education and that it was he who established Ghana Secondary School in Tamale in January 1960 and the Navorongo Secondary School in September of the same year.

Hajia Adisah Munkaila, a former Member of the Council of State and a staunch Nkrumahist, defended the introduction of the Prevention Detention Act (PDA) and said it was the constant harassment, throwing of bombs and generally trying to make the country ungovernable that brought about the PDA.

She said Dr Nkrumah was a selfless leader who championed the cause and welfare of the masses and promoted the participation of women in politics and government by appointing for example Mrs. Ramatu Baba as the first woman and only female District Commissioner of Yendi. Mr. Nayina earlier joined Moslems at the Jubilee Park in Tamale to mark the Eid-Ul-Fitr celebrations.

He urged Muslims to use the period after fasting to reflect on their social and economic well being and eschew negative practices that sought to divide them.

He also entreated them to embark on acts that would portray the true nature of the religion as one of peace and not violence. Alhaji Abubakari Abdul-Salam, the Chief Imam of Tamale, prayed for the peace and prosperity of the nation and urged Muslims to live morally upright lives. 21 Sept 09