Ghana: Nkrumah, CPP and Fiftieth Independence Anniversary in Retrospect

PRESS STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 1, 2007

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS

There are significant events in the life of a nation that mark the end and beginning of epochs with economic, political or cultural undertones and outcomes. Coincidentally, each national epoch contains events that generate collective euphoria the experience of which cannot be recaptured in full by future generations except by explanation of the turning points they leave behind them.

For the subject people of the Gold Coast, the public announcement at midnight of March 5th, 1957, about the granting of political independence by England, after 60 years of formal colonization, marked the end of a significant epoch of human subjugation and bondage in one’s own homeland. Consequently, March 6, 1957, signified the beginning of a new epoch for the new nation of Gold Coast (thereafter to be called Ghana), the epoch of political independence, freedom and liberty!

Fifty years after 1957, we, the members of Convention People’s Party, North America (CPPNA), consider it important to remind the current generations of Ghanaians that ending the epoch of colonization of the Gold Coast and ushering in the beginning of political independence for Ghana did not happen by a dint of providence or in a vacuum.

As a social organization that accepts the best traditions of the cultural and political life of Ghana, CPPNA wants to acknowledge the contribution to the reality and attainment of the country’s independence by the Convention People’s Party, CPP and its founder and leader Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah.

CPPNA provides a forum for discussion of political, economic, development and cultural matters, with membership open to everyone.

Beginning in 1949, Kwame Nkrumah rallied the young people of Gold Coast into a formidable movement that served as the vanguard for agitation for political independence from the British government, especially through its local agent, an appointed Governor-General. Subsequently, Nkrumah galvanized the youth movement, Committee for Youth Organization, CYO, into a potent mass political party, CPP.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS

Let there be no doubt in anybody’s mind, that it was the work done by Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP, starting from 1949, that brought about one of the most successful social revolutions of the second half of the twentieth century which C. L. R. James, the historian and author, spoke about. The Nkrumah and CPP-led social revolution culminated in the death of colonization of Gold Coast and the birth of independence for the people of Ghana! The Ghana independence signaled the beginning of dismantling of European colonization of the African continent.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS

In the interest of objectivity in the discourse of the politics of Ghana, it is important to point out that Kwame Nkrumah never claimed singular ownership of the effort that went into the struggle for independence by the people of the Gold Coast. In the conclusion to a speech he made on radio on 20th Sept., 1956, regarding pending celebration of independence day for the Gold Coast, Nkrumah said: “In the hour of triumph we should look back and give thanks to all the statesmen who down the years had worked and striven to make possible the attainment of our independence, and to all those who had more recently played their part, both great and small, in bringing our struggle to its close.”

Following the initial announcement of intent by the British government to grant independence to the Gold Coast, Kwame Nkrumah extended an olive branch to the opposition members in the Legislative Assembly, by inviting them for a thorough discussion of a proposed constitution for the country. The opposition accepted, but eventually scuttled the magnanimous political gesture from Nkrumah by declining the invitation to discuss the proposed constitution for the Gold Coast, “in the best interest of our country,” pleaded Kwame Nkrumah, even before a debate on it could take place in the Legislative Assembly.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE PRESS

While recognizing that the people of the Gold Coast were entitled to jubilate and celebrate the attainment of independence for their country, Kwame Nkrumah said in a radio broadcast that, “African nationalism was not confined to the Gold Coast ---the new Ghana.” For Kwame Nkrumah, the success of the Gold Coast revolution, spearheaded by the CPP, was to serve as a vanguard for the spread of Pan-African nationalism towards political emancipation of all colonial people and territories on the African continent. “Our task is not done and our own safety is not assured until the last vestiges of colonialism have been swept from Africa.”

Fifty years after Ghana’s independence, CPPNA joins hands with all Ghanaian and African nationalists to acknowledge that the task of emancipation of the whole continent of Africa from foreign political rule has been accomplished. Thanks to Kwame Nkrumah and the CPP for the wind of political change they generated in 1949.

Kwame Nkrumah urged on the people of the Gold Coast to seek political kingdom before other things could be added on to it. Before Nkrumah and the CPP could consolidate the new political kingdom of Ghana, the evil hands of foreign interests pushed a section of Ghana’s military institution to overthrow the government of the First Republic on February 24, 1966.

The overthrow of the Nkrumah regime in Ghana saw derailment of its planned economic program for the new nation.

LADIES AND GETLEMEN

To fulfill the manifest destiny of serving as the vanguard for emancipation of the African continent from foreign domination, we, the members of CPPNA hold the view that the work of the CPP is not complete until it returns Ghana towards the path for progressive economic development for the benefit of the country and the African continent. In this regard, the CPPNA considers the period following the fiftieth anniversary of Ghana’s independence as one designated for the advancement of progressive economic development of Ghana with an undertone of unity of continental Africa.

Members of CPPNA take the opportunity offered by the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of attainment of independence for Ghana to call on all fellow citizens to pause and have a sober reflection, devoid of differences in partisan political inclinations, about the tasks ahead that need to be accomplished towards placing our country on the path that promises economic prosperity for everyone and to work in the interest of that goal.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN

On this auspicious occasion of Ghana’s fiftieth independence anniversary and in recognition of the role played by Kwame Nkrumah in the struggle against colonization, CPPNA finds it appropriate to share some words of his that elicit patriotism: “Let us dedicate ourselves to serve this country of ours, this nation, with all the strength, knowledge and wisdom that God had given us. And let us pledge ourselves anew to serve our country selflessly, to protect her rights and interests, and to play our part among the nations of the world in promoting peace, happiness and the progress of mankind.” (Address to Gold Coast Legislative Assembly; Sept. 19, 1956).

From these words of wisdom from Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, the founder of the Convention People’s Party, CPP, we the members of CPPNA promise to dedicate ourselves to serve Ghana, our motherland, with all the skills and knowledge we have acquired, through the help of God. We pledge our intellectual and material support for the organization of the CPP and all its branches, limbs and leaves, in the effort towards recapturing the glorious days of landslide victory at the polls during national elections.

On this joyous occasion of observing the fiftieth anniversary of independence for Ghana, made possible through the work of the CPP led by Osagyefo Kwame Nkrumah, we the members of CPPNA salute our fellow citizens in Ghana and abroad and wish them a prosperous future under a CPP government.

Long Live CPPNA!

Long Live the CPP!

Long Live Ghana!

Long Live Africa!

CONTACT: akokonini@yahoo.com

Convention People’s Party, North America

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