Nkrumah's statue unveiled at new AU Conference Centre
Heads of states and governments last Saturday gathered at the African Union Conference Centre to unveil a magnificent statue in honour of one of the continent's illustrious sons, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, first President of Ghana.
The programme which formed part of an elaborate one to inaugurate the new AU Conference Centre and Office Complex donated by the Chinese Government to the union, was unveiled by Ghana’s sitting President, Professor John Evans Atta Mills.
He unveiled the statue in the company of Dr Jean Ping, AU Commission’s chairperson, Mr Teodoro Obiang Nguema, President of Equitorial Guinea, and Chairperson of the African Union, Professor Francis Nkrumah, elder son and sibling Samia Nkrumah, the only daughter of Dr Nkrumah and witnessed by former President Jerry John Rawlings, also of Ghana and other heads of state and government.
The prominent African leaders present looked on with deep emotion as President Mills lowered the cloth covering the huge bronze statue of an illustrious son.
Dr Ping paid glowing tribute to Dr Nkrumah for his vision for Africa, saying the need to honour him was long overdue.
For his part, Professor Nkrumah described the occasion as a great honour to the family, the people of Ghana and Africa as a whole.
“We feel overwhelmed by the honour. This is an indication that the spirit and ideals of Dr Nkumah still live. What drove him to tread this path will drive all of us,” he stressed.
Ms. Nkrumah, who is also the chairperson of her father's party, the Convention People’s Party (CPP), said the “whole family feels humbled, delighted and honoured to participate in this great occasion.”
She described the programme by the AU as a powerful recognition of the ideals and conviction of Dr Nkrumah.
A Senior Ghanaian Presidential Staffer, Dr Don Arthur, said, “This is the statue we destroyed in Ghana years ago but which is being celebrated all over by the whole continent.”
He said the statue symbolized the importance of Dr Nkrumah stressing that “It is our duty to help the AU to unite Africa.”
Source: Daily Graphic
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