Every September 21, since 2009, is a statutory holiday set aside by the government to observe the birthday of Dr. Nkrumah. Yesterday, the CCP observed the day on the theme: “Solid vanguard to meet the needs of Ghanaians.”

Prof. Delle said: “We need to reconstruct the vanguard that would lead to the attainment of Nkrumah’s ideals and transformation of the country, under a covenant.” He said the CPP has a duty to win this year’s election to liberate all oppressed people in Ghana, as championed in the 1950s across Africa and the world by Dr. Nkrumah whose role in the attainment of political independence cannot be overlooked.

He therefore tasked the current crop of CPP leaders across the country to provide a vanguard to protect the physical development of Ghana. Prof. Delle said the people’s welfare was supreme in Dr. Nkrumah’s human ideology, as he placed the human being at the centre and African unity and integration at the core of development.

Prof. Delle noted that it was the vision of the first President to reach this height, not only for Ghana, but for the whole of Africa. He quoted the famous statement of Nkrumah: “The independence of Ghana is meaningless, unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa.”

Today, this dream has become true; all African countries are free from colonial rule.

He pointed out that the continent now is indeed politically liberated, but still far away from the dream of Nkrumah of being united. He claimed that we need to “take down the artificial borders that divide us”, to advance economic co-operation, free trade and free movement between the countries.

He emphasised that Africa as “one continent with one destiny” has to find solutions for development on its own. He called Nkrumah “not only a leader of Ghana, but indeed, a leader of all the people of Africa,” and “a base for the total liberation of our continent,” but added the continent was still far away from liberation of poverty, of underdevelopment and of backwardness.

To achieve this, he inspired the people to: “The slogan Africa must unite must continue to resound in our ears.” Dr. Nkrumah became the first president and first prime minister of the Republic of Ghana. He was a founding member of the Organisation of African Unity, now the Africa Union.

He further helped many Africa countries to attain independence, including Guinea that it offered 10 million pounds, when that country faced financial challenges. Some of the economic legacies of President Nkrumah included the building of the Tema township and industrial hub, the Accra-Tema Motorway, Komfo Anokye Hospital in Kumasi, University of Science and Technology, University of Cape Coast, polytechnics and secondary schools around the country, the Akosombo Dam and Adome Bridge.

After President Nkrumah, no other government in the country has been able to embark on such a massive infrastructural development and some of these infrastructures still remain the main pillars in many sectors.