Financial analyst Richmond Akpah says the vision of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, extended beyond Ghana’s independence to the liberation and development of Africa.
Speaking on the news review segment on the AmClub, on what would have been Dr. Nkrumah’s 117th birthday, Mr. Akpah said Nkrumah’s Pan-African ideals continue to shape conversations about Africa’s economic and political development.
“I believe that his vision was not just for Ghana to get independence. Nkrumah is widely celebrated as a Pan-Africanist, someone who is more focused on uniting the African continent and ensuring that most of the African countries get independence.”
Mr. Akpah also drew a direct parallel between Dr. Nkrumah’s development agenda and projects being pursued by the current government under President John Dramani Mahama.
He cited the Big Push infrastructure programme, the expansion of the Tema–Accra Motorway and proposed improvements to the Accra–Kumasi corridor as examples of what he considers a continuation of Nkrumah’s emphasis on long-term national development.
“His Excellency John Dramani Mahama is a replica, or a true born son of the lineage of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, because the visions that Kwame Nkrumah sought to do, he is doing it.”
He argued that the focus on major infrastructure projects reflects the kind of long-term planning associated with Dr. Nkrumah’s administration.
“Talk about the Big Push programs. Talk about expanding the Tema to Accra motorway. Talk about constructing an expressway from Accra to Kumasi, limiting or reducing the travel time from about eight to six hours to about two hours. That’s a visionary president.”
Mr. Akpah further linked Nkrumah’s vision to Ghana’s current economic trajectory, arguing that fiscal discipline and prudence are central to achieving sustainable development.
“This administration did not perform any magic to bring the macroeconomic indicators to a good place. All it did was fiscal prudence, fiscal discipline, and doing the right things.”
His comments come as Ghana marks the 117th anniversary of the birth of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, whose legacy continues to feature prominently in discussions on Ghana’s independence, Pan-Africanism and national development.
