Samia Seeks Spiritual Blessings

Economic activities at Nkroful in the Western Region came to a standstill yesterday as thousands of indigenes besieged the 'Nyaniba House' in the town to catch a glimpse of Samia Yaba Nkrumah, daughter of the first President of Ghana and founder of the Convention People's Party (CPP), Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. 

Madam Samia, a freelance journalist who lives in Rome, Italy, had expressed interest to contest the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem parliamentary seat in the Central Region on the ticket of the CPP in the December 2008 elections.

She was therefore at Nkroful to pay homage to her grand parents and seek their blessings as she embarks on her political career in the country.

People from all walks of life from adjoining towns like Esiama, Asanda and Kikam joined those at Nkroful to embark on a procession with Madam Samia in the front row.

Others also danced to brass band music through the principal streets of Nkroful and later converged at the Nkroful old market where they were addressed by Samia and some CPP stalwarts.

At the Nyaniba House, Samia held a meeting with some of the family members of her father and later visited the tomb of her grand mother, the late Madam Elizabeth Nyaniba, who died on 21st October, 1977.

The only daughter of the late Dr. Nkrumah attempted to speak the local dialect of the Nzema people, thus attracting a loud round of applause from the people amidst shouts of “You are good! You are good”.

She thanked the chiefs and people of Nkroful for their support during the final funeral rites of her late mother, Fathia Nkrumah at Accra in June last year, adding that she was at her spiritual place of birth to re-connect with her family and tradition.

She told the meeting that she had decided to settle permanently in Ghana in June this year to help re-build her father's political party, the CPP, saying she was at her father's birthplace to receive spiritual blessing in her political ambition.

“I want to come back and live in Ghana to be able to play an active role in politics; but before that I want the blessings of my elders who had supported the party and continue to support it in diverse ways,” she noted.

According to Samia, the CPP would never fizzle out in the Ghanaian political arena, adding, “Nkrumah was CPP and CPP was Nkrumah, and I have also come here with the CPP”.

A spokesperson for the family, Mr. Joseph Cobbinah described Samia's visit as momentous, noting that the family members were happy that after many years of sojourn outside the country, Samia had been able to visit her ancestral home.

The family of the late Dr. Nkrumah presented a sheep, two crates of minerals and a bottle of Schnapps to Samia, offered libation and prayer for her, and asked her to pass the night at Nkroful.

From the Nyaniba House, Madam Samia visited her late father's tomb at Nkroful and later interacted with some of the elders of Nkroful.

Abusua Kpanyinli Nyame Blay, Acting Chief of Nkroful who welcomed Madam Samia to the house, prayed for God's blessings and spiritual strength for her so she could achieve her political ambition.

In the entourage of Madam Samia were Mr. Mike Eghan, National Treasurer of CPP; Major Segbefia, National Chairman of the party's welfare committee; Mr. Godwin Etrue, Western Regional Chairman of the party; and Mr. Kobina Tumi, Regional Organizer.

From Emmanuel Opoku, Nkroful