Tamale, Sept. 23, GNA - Mr. Stephen Sumani Nayina, Northern Regional Minister has urged Ghanaians to use the centenary celebrations of Osageyfo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to assess all 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 to diminish his contributions to the nation's development.

"Nkrumah was a good leader with foresight and vision. He was a leader far ahead of his time," Mr. Nayina said.

He was speaking to the GNA in an interview on Dr. Nkrumah's achievements and shortcomings in Tamale on Monday. The Regional Minister said the greatest legacy Nkrumah gave to the people of Ghana was in the field of education and industrialization. He said but for Nkrumah, the North would have been behind in education and noted 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.

Mr. Nayina conceded that as a human being, Nkrumah had his faults, but quickly added that the basis for condemning him was created by the opposition at the time.

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 Nkrumah was a selfless leader who championed the cause and welfare of the masses.

She said he also promoted the active participation of women in politics and government by appointing Mrs. Ramatu Baba as the first woman and only female District Commissioner of Yendi. Mr. Nayina had 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.