Opinions of Thursday, 2 August 2012

Columnist: Ansah, Nana

Mills Burial: Let Us For Once Get It Right For The Long Haul.

BURY MILLS @ KWAME NKRUMAH MEMORIAL PARK

Bury the late president Mills on the grounds of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. I say this bearing in mind” What would Kwame Nkrumah do or say, should he be alive. He will say in his witty style –“Be my guest”. Even in death Kwame Nkrumah is humorous.

I put my Hand on my heart and stand as a staunch Nkrumahist to say this; I believe beyond any reasonable doubt that the founding father of what is today’s modern Ghana would not have anything against it for the late president Mills to be buried on his park.

On the contrary, Kwame Nkrumah in his amazing grace will welcome all sons and daughters of Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana who occupied the seat of the presidency should they wish to be buried there. For Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah has always and famously held the view that "it is far better for us to govern or misgovern ourselves than to live happily in servitude“ So each president who did his bit is heartily welcome he would say.

I think the idea for the late President JEA Mills to be buried on the grounds of the Taj Mahal is ill thought and should be scrapped. It is the seat of the government and not cemetery. It begs the question – are we going to bury all presidents at the flagstaff house? So those board members should rethink their decision and not only appease the newly sworn in president Mahama by accepting his proposal as one touch. By the way, what is the use of the committee if they will in the end bow to the president? Let us in our grief not be carried away and leave our emotional intelligence behind. Let us for once do something and get it right for the long haul not ad hoc even if we are in our present state emotionally charged. Kwame Nkrumah will be ready to host Mills and all presidents who come thereafter in his hall of fame. And here is why --- Because Kwame Nkrumah believed in UNITY until his last breath.

The late president Mills for his part did the following to deserve a place on the grounds of the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. Firstly, he enacted the founding father’s day of modern Ghana in honour of Kwame Nkrumah to be celebrated as national holiday with the presidential powers offered to his office. Secondly, the late president Mills was actively engaged in putting up the fitting statue of Kwame Nkrumah at the forecourt of the AU newly built headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. And last but by no means the least, the Late president J.E.A. Mills is a Nkrumahist.

Suggestion: On the far right back of Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park there is enough space for future presidents after demise to be buried there should they wish/choose so.

The Axioms [ideas and ideals] of Kwame Nkrumah is still true today i.e. African Unity. I hope the union government which Kwame Nkrumah proposed on the continental basis will kick off with demise of President JEA Mills in Ghana from this day forward. The build up from Ghana will gather momentum for the final African Unity. Whoever wins the coming elections should be bold and go beyond partisanship to form an ALL-IN (All – Inclusive) government in Ghana.

The fight for the liberation of Africa began here and the fight for Africa’s economic freedom will begin and end here.

If not here in Ghana – where? If not this golden age generation – who? If we do not seize the time now – When?

Nkrumah Lives! We still face forward. Long live Maame/Daavi Ghana in everlasting Peace and Unity. Africa MUST Unite. Viva sweet mother Africa.