Son of Nkrumah cautions Ghanaian politicians

Mr. Gamel Nkrumah, son of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana, has cautioned Ghanaian politicians not to plunge the country into turmoil and civil war.

He said the ways and manners some politicians from the various political divides are propagating and whipping up tribalistic and ethnic sentiments to win political power in future elections are dangerous for the sustenance of democracy and development of the country. Mr. Nkrumah disclosed this at Tripoli, Libya, on political development in Ghana, with regard to the vision of Dr Nkrumah.

The Cairo-based journalist and Pan Africanist was in Libya to receive a special honour in memory of his late father. "Politicians instigating tribalism will pay a heavy price for that," he said. Mr. Nkrumah said Ghana has since the overthrow of the first Republican Government suffered and "there is therefore no need to throw into jeopardy the present political and economic strides."

"Who thought there would be wars in Liberia, Congo, Somalia, and other African countries? Nobody thought (of it)," Gamel said. He advised politicians aspiring to execute their political, social and economic ideas, and who are now campaigning for the 2000 elections must do so honourably and not to thwart developmental efforts. Mr. Nkrumah stressed the need to quicken the pace towards a continental union government, which his father stood for until his overthrow and subsequent death. "We are messing up in Africa because of the absence of a continental union," he added.

Gamel Nkrumah said powerful countries like the United States of America and the European Union have became major economic blocks to Africa's development because they speak with a common voice. He said African countries cannot look at things in isolation, and this called for a continental union government, which could be the only salvation in redressing Africa's economic, social and political woes.