The Member of Parliament for Ellembelle and Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has called on Ghanaians and Africans to move beyond merely celebrating the memory of Ghana’s founding President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and instead recommit themselves to advancing his enduring vision of self-reliance, Pan-African unity and continental transformation.
Speaking at the launch of the 2026 edition of Nkrumahfest at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra on Friday, July 31, 2026, Mr. Buah urged citizens to embrace Nkrumah’s ideals as a living blueprint for Africa’s development rather than treating his legacy as a relic of history.
“Let us go to Nkroful not as tourists visiting a shrine but as soldiers returning to the source of our strength,” he declared before an audience of government officials, Members of Parliament, scholars, Pan-Africanists and admirers of Ghana’s first President.
He challenged Africans to reflect on whether the continent is living up to Nkrumah’s vision of economic independence and unity.
“Are we upholding the vision of self-reliance that he called for? Are we nurturing the Pan-African unity he championed?” he asked.
Mr. Buah emphasized that commemorating Nkrumah should inspire concrete action rather than symbolic remembrance, saying Africa’s future depends on reviving the principles that guided the country’s foremost nationalist and Pan-African leader.
“Let us return to Nkroful with fire in our bellies to complete his work and love in our hearts for this Africa he envisioned,” he said.
He noted that Nkrumah envisioned an Africa that would be “the builder, not the beggar,” and urged leaders and citizens alike to renew their commitment to that aspiration through unity, innovation and self-reliance.
With what he described as “immense pride and a profound sense of purpose,” the Minister officially declared the 26th edition of Nkrumahfest launched and encouraged Ghanaians to participate actively in the celebrations.
“Let’s journey to Nkrumah’s place of birth and let’s get fired up,” he urged.
Delivering the keynote address, veteran journalist and Pan-Africanist Kwesi Pratt Jnr. underscored the enduring relevance of Nkrumah’s philosophy, insisting that although Ghana’s first President passed away more than five decades ago, his dreams for Africa remain alive.
Speaking on the theme, “Nkrumah Never Dies – The African of the Millennium’s Dreams Live On,” Mr. Pratt said the ideals of African unity, economic emancipation and social justice championed by Dr. Nkrumah continue to inspire generations across the continent and remain essential to Africa’s future.
The 2026 Nkrumahfest is being held on the theme “Nkrumah @117: Celebrating His Enduring Legacy – Africa Must Unite or Perish.” The celebrations will culminate in the week-long “Journey to Nkroful” programme from September 14 to September 21, 2026, at Nkroful in the Western Region, the birthplace of Ghana’s founding President.
The event is expected to bring together Pan-Africanists, scholars, students, traditional leaders and the general public for lectures, cultural performances, exhibitions and commemorative activities aimed at celebrating Dr. Nkrumah’s enduring legacy while inspiring a renewed commitment to his vision of African unity, self-reliance and sustainable development.
By: Christian Kpesese
