Nkrumah's centenary birthday planning committee

Accra, June 2, GNA - Vice President John Mahama, on Tuesday inaugurated an 18-member committee, to plan the centenary birthday of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, with a call on members to come out with cost-effective events appropriate to the stature of the eminent founding President of Ghana.

He charged the committee, under the chairmanship of Professor Akilagkpa Sawyerr, to be transparent in handling of the event by ensuring that "no clouds would be found hanging over its head". Vice President Mahama said the committee must discharge its mandate with the hindsight of recent public furore over the management of similar events.

Touching on the significance of the celebration, he traced the yeoman's role Dr Nkrumah played in the evolution of Ghana as a State and pre-eminence in Africa and geo-political studies. He explained that these sterling qualities informed the decision of President John Evans Atta Mills, to immortalize his name with a public holiday.

Vice President Mahama asked the committee to do a thorough work since a number of heads of state and other international figures who share Dr Nkrumah's doctrine of Pan-Africanism have expressed interest to participate in the grand centenary event slated for September 21. He urged the committee to work towards creating a depository of artefacts and literature connected to the late head of state, to serve as inspiration for succeeding generations.

Professor Sawyerr, who is a former Vice Chancellor of University of Ghana, thanked President Mills for the confidence reposed in them and promised to work towards reviving the ideas that made Dr Nkrumah a significant politician beyond Africa.

Other members of the committee drawn from academia and adherents of the political philosophy that Dr Nkrumah championed include Mr Bernard Mornah as Secretary, Mr Asuom Ahensan, Mr Kwesi Pratt, Mr Ladi Nylander and Prof Badu Akosa.

Others are Prof Nii Noi Dowuona, Dr Mohammed Ben Abdallah, Dr Alhassan Iddrisu, Dr Sekou Nkrumah, Dr Esi Sutherland Addy and Rev Dr Chris Hesse.

The rest are Dr Don Arthur, Dr Yao Graham, Mr J.H. Cobbinah, Mr Nat Mainoo, Madam Araba Bentsi Enchill and Mrs Bernice Deh-Kumah. 02 June 09