“Crediting those who contributed to our development“

Ghana achieved independence from British colonial rule on 6 March 1957. and became the first British colony in Africa  to do so. Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah became Ghana’s first Prime Minister. On 1st July, 1960 the country became a republic with Kwame Nkrumah as its first President. Under Dr. Nkrumah’s leadership, Ghana spearheaded the political advancement of Africa and laid the foundations for the unity later expressed in the formation of the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Dr. Nkrumah was a firm supporter of the Commonwealth and the Non-Aligned movement. As the twentieth century came to a close, there was a great deal of speculation as to who were the trailblazers of the era.  The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) in particular polled its listeners in Africa as to whom they considered the person of the millennium. In December of 1999, the listeners picked Kwame Nkrumah (1909 – 1972) as their “Man of the Millennium.” The BBC announced the result of its listeners’ poll in September 2000.

Labour and material wealth were spirited from Africa for half of a millennium to sponsor the development of Europe and the USA.  During the last half of the twentieth century, however, Africans went through profound changes that enabled them to loosen the yoke of classical colonialism.  

“Belgium realised that the era of colonialism was gone it retain extensive financial interests in the southern portion of the massive country and its companies, as well as financial interests in the United States directed money into the hands of what was a kind of war lord. Meanwhile the country held its first election and a charismatic postal clerk and brewery worker became the Congo's first and only ever elected president. With investment flowing into the mineral rich southern province of Katanga Patrice Lumumba's new government was in trouble and Belgium and others refused help. Desperation led Lumumba to accept transport aircraft from the USSR and the White House issued directions to the CIA to have Lumumba killed. He was captured and murdered and since then, the Congo has been in a state of what can only be described as civil war which often spills over its borders into neighbouring countries.”

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is  a significant and formidable politician in her own right, having held government positions and headed the ANC Women's League. A controversial figure, she is known to her supporters as 'Mother of the Nation' and is popular because of her activism, yet reviled by others for her strong actions. She demonstrated historical commitment and had been the family backbone to Nelson Mandella during his 27 years in prison as a consequent of his fight against the South African apartheid regime at the time. There is a school of thought which contend that, without Winnie’s support, Nelson would not have survived his long prison sentence on Robben Island.

“9. WE BELIEVE that the offer of integration is hypocritical and is made by those who are trying to deceive the black peoples into believing that their 400-year-old open enemies of freedom, justice and equality are, all of a sudden, their ‘friends.’ Furthermore, we believe that such deception is intended to prevent black people from realizing that the time in history has arrived for the separation from the whites of this nation.” Number 9, one of the Nation of Islam’s official platform of beliefs as stated by Elijah Muhammad in Message to the Blackman in America published in 1965.

“Now, I say to you today my friends, even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: - 'We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”

    Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Speech at Civil Rights March on Washington, August 28, 1963

"When the Missionaries arrived, the Africans had the Land and the Missionaries had the Bible. They taught how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible”

Joel A. Rogers

1883-1966

 Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

1909-1972

Winnie Madikizela-Mandela

1934(6)-

Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela

1918-   

Malcolm X

1925-1965

Hon. Elijah Muhammad

1889-1975

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

1925-1968

Dr. W E B DuBois

1868-1963

Julius Kambarage Nyerere

1922-1999