Nkrumah’s Scholars & Scribes: Ghana Association of Writers (GAW)

President Dr. Osageyfo Kwame Nkrumah did not just belong to the colonial Gold Coast (Ghana); Nkrumah was a 19^th century Black/African traveling intellectual activist and belonged to the Pan African Global scheme of things. Such experiences, writing was a must be it speeches and/or books.

If one only focuses on the concept of ‘nationalism’ --as it pertains to only the Republic of Ghana, which did not exist until 1957, the person would miss delving into the Pan African Movement, which started in the 1800s; Africa’s centuries of struggle from the grip of whites’/European imperialists’’ colonialism; and limited understanding of why Africa sought liberation from neo-colonialists –exactly when, and what role Nkrumah and African Diasporans played in the struggle.

Nkrumah not only attended schools in the U.S. for ten years, the U.K. for two years, Ghanaian via President gaining independence from Europeans, Co-President of the country of Guinea, one can also consider him an ‘Egyptian’--Nkrumah married Fathia Halim Rizk, an Egyptian national in January 1957.

(side note: the name Egypt via Greek invaders; indigenous name is ‘Kemet’ and people Kemetians—both meaning Black).

Black/African scribes’ --prehistoric and ancient markings, even the Ishango bone, drawings and messages on Africa’s mountain boulders and walls, also from the ancient northern Africa area (known today as Iraq) stone tablets; also, Kemetians, TaSeti and TaNehisians’ papyruses and Metu Neters—writings over tens of thousands of years old, were prior to the ‘original people’ Blacks/Africans’ building of the great pyramids in Africa, including the pyramids in the Americas and beyond.

Nkrumah had traveled to the ancient eastern lands of Africa with all its ancient scholarship and artifacts, and visited the lands of the Nile River Valley Civilization that Ancestor Dr. Yosef ben Jochannan taught and wrote about. Such learning and reclaiming, one could say Nkrumah’s mausoleum in Accra, Ghana even reflects a blend of East-West Africa motifs.

In 1957, Nkrumah established the organization of Ghana Association of Writers (GAW) as posted on its African shield logo. According to the GAW Treasurer, Mr. Akyea, in the beginning the GAW organization was once housed in the W.E.B. DuBois Center.

Upon the illegal overthrow of President Nkrumah February 24, 1966, the GAW as story told—was/is suppressed, and/or as reported engaged in internal conflicts.

As with many of Nkrumah’s writings (‘blueprints’), organizations and industries that were stifled or totally destroyed by West Africa’s old ‘Coastal Black Piracy’ –people deeply engrained of envy, Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome (PTSS), and in opposition to communalism and socialism, more so Nkrumah’s leadership-- such Coastal Black piracy saturated certain villages, and ‘Tribalism” within the Gold Coast ever since it was nicknamed the “slave hub” by whites/Europeans (1400s-1800s) and still ongoing.

Nkrumah’s work, Pan Africanism, Ghana’s infrastructure, or anything else that is not a concern or does not appease European imperialists, neo-colonialists, former enslavers and British Freemasons for the purpose of boosting trade was/has been further neglected and “underdeveloped”.

Eventually, GAW was moved to another area of Accra for whatever reasons, and housed in what is known today as the PAWA House (Pan Africa Writers Association). Note--The PAWA was established in 1989, the major player in many writers’ associations on the African continent.

Nevertheless, Nkrumah’s GAW, although it went underground and what many say --into a level of obscurity via his overthrow, GAW resurfaced in the 1970s.

An early president of GAW:
Atukwei John Okai
Quote: “1971to 1991 he [Okai] served as President of the Ghana Association of Writers. In 1989 he was elected the first Secretary-General of the Pan-African Writers’ Association …”. (TEDx Sypala)

Other presidents and vice presidents of GAW:

• Ashong-Kata(P)
• Kwasi Gyan-Apenteng (P)
• Bill Marshall (VP)
• Doris Adabasu Kuwornu (VP)
• Francis Gbomittah(P)
• Camynta Baezie (P)--presently

GAW consists of branches throughout several Ghana regions; its efforts to create and increase academic performance, scholarship and more so improve literacy: and to encourage repatriating African Diasporans to help build a quality African-centered education system and opportunities to share their cultures and histories.

GAW has offered literary projects and community programs thus far:

• GAW Book Festival (GAWBOFEST)
• GAW Schools Outreach Programme (GAWSOP)
• GAW Sunday
• GAW Annual Literary Awards
• GAW Workshops
• International Exchange Programme

Dr. K. Makeda Muhammad-- member and Repatriating ‘Ascendant of Africans who were stolen from Africa’ or African Diasporan. Presently, my determined efforts are: to organize a group of writers and textbook publishers in devising a GAW Textbook & Academic Writing Commission (TAWC) –consisting of nonfiction writing, research, ‘African-centered’ textbooks and academic works: to build a bridge between NaCCA (National Council for Curriculum and Assessment), when or if needed, in devising a Ghana curriculum “for Africans by Africans”: and to encourage government to build a well-shelved high-tech public library connected to international library system/global network. Please contact if interested in helping GAW.

In addition, to encourage GAW administrators and members in the immediate future to further a Pan African undertaking, reaching out to “the Ascendants”, including Africans who left the continent voluntarily, and those today, supposedly seeking “greener pastures”. Of course, many African Diasporan narratives have been written, more writings-- possibly of Repatriation experiences.

Thanking GAW Administration, and Nana Kweku Egyir Gyepi III, Akyenpemhen of Cape Coast, author and a member of GAW Traditional Council, for their support.

Please note: To provide research/corrections/updates for this article—place in writing, contact GAW @ PAWA House (near Accra Girls School), or GAW Facebook leave contact information. Thank you in advance.

References:

• Photo: GAW Facebook
• TEDx Sypala: This event occurred on August 9, 2009. Retrieved October 31, 2024. Accra, Ghana. https://www.ted.com-tedx/events/25
• International Authors. Retrieved October 31, 2024, https://Internationalauthors.org/news/member-spotlight-ghana-association-of-writers.
• GBN. Ghana Association of Writers mourns Bill Okyere Marshall. Retrieved October 31. 2024. https://www.ghanabusinessnews.com/2021/06019/ghana-association-of-writers-mourns-bill-okyere-marshall/
• Association of Writers hold congress on May 28. Retrieved October 31, 2024. https://www.modernghana.com/news/693335/association-of-writers-hold-congress-on-may-w8.html
• ‘Black man of the Nile and His Family’ by Dr. Yosef A. A. ben-Jochannan
• ‘Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is stolen Egyptian Philosophy’ by Dr. George G. M. James
• ‘Post Traumatic Slave Syndrome’ By Dr. Joy DeGruy
• ‘Neo-colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism’ by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
• ‘How Europe Underdeveloped Africa’ by Dr. Walter Rodney

Dr. K. Makeda Muhammad is a ‘Repatriate’ a returnee to Africa via Ghana in 2011. Dr. Makeda’s field of study is Black Studies; Educator, Author, Pan Africanist, first African American recipient of Ghana’s EDUCOM Award, Recipient of community Helping Hands MACPRI Award, Recipient of the Abibitumi Headquarters and Marcus Mosiah Garvey Foundation Citation; and Member of Ghana Association of Writers (GAW), Columnist for Modern Ghana Media, community activist and social media freedom fighter.