President John Dramani Mahama has urged Ghanaians to draw inspiration from the vision and legacy of Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as the country commemorates Founder’s Day.
In a message posted on social media on Monday, September 21, President Mahama said the occasion provides an opportunity for Ghanaians both at home and abroad to reflect on Dr Nkrumah’s role in the country’s independence struggle and his vision for a united and self-reliant Africa.
According to the President, Dr Nkrumah’s commitment to liberty, Pan-African unity and self-reliance helped position Ghana as a symbol of hope on the global stage.
He said Dr Nkrumah’s conviction that Africans could determine and manage their own affairs continues to inform Ghana’s national identity and aspirations.
“Today is our Founder’s Day, another opportunity for us to pause as a people and honour the immortal legacy of our nation’s founder, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
“He was a visionary whose relentless pursuit of liberty, Pan-African unity, and self-reliance placed Ghana as a beacon of hope on the global stage. His bold declaration that ‘the black man is capable of managing his own affairs’ remains the bedrock of our national pride.”
President Mahama said Founder’s Day should not only be about celebrating Dr Nkrumah’s achievements but should also remind Ghanaians of the work that remains in building the nation.
While acknowledging that Ghana achieved political independence under Dr Nkrumah’s leadership, he said the broader goal of creating a prosperous and equitable society remains unfinished.
“As we celebrate his unparalleled legacy today, I remind every Ghanaian at home and in the diaspora that the work of nation-building is not complete.”
He therefore encouraged Ghanaians to draw on Dr Nkrumah’s ideals in addressing the country’s present challenges and advancing its development.
“Let us draw strength from Osagyefo’s vision and contribute in our own way to attaining the Resetting Ghana Agenda. I charge us all to rise above division, embrace selfless patriotism, and work tirelessly toward economic freedom and social justice.”
President Mahama also connected Dr Nkrumah’s pursuit of political independence to the responsibility of present-day Ghanaians to secure economic and social progress.
“Just as Nkrumah fought for our political independence, we have a collective duty today to build a prosperous, equitable, and resilient Ghana.”
