Let us hail Dr Kwame Nkrumah

IT is often said that a nation that does not honour its heroes is not worth dying for and that acknowledgement and recognition should be given to whom it is due.

TODAY, 21st September, 2009 marks the centenary birthday of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah- the industrious son of Africa who led Ghana to attain independence during the struggle for liberation from British Colonial rule.

IN an effort to recognise the meritorious role he played in the struggle for Ghana's independence, President John Evans Atta Mills has declared today a national holiday in loving memory of this great son of Africa.

WE at TODAY believe that Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah deserves to be honoured in a more nationalistic manner hence the need for all Ghanaians to embrace and celebrate his birthday today.

AT the international level, he was the most important African nationalist leader of his generation and was inspirational throughout Africa.

HE was the leading supporter of pan-African unity and worked tirelessly to bring about the political union of the emerging African states.

DR Kwame Nkrumah's foreign policies, including his active contribution to the formation of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) now African union (AU) and Pan-African Movement in general brought him to the limelight that was acknowledged worldwide.

DURING the reign of President Nkrumah, major development projects took place in Ghana.

THE economic legacies of the late President Nkrumah include the building of Tema Township, the Accra-Tema Motorway, the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi, the University of Science and Technology, the University of Cape Coast, Polytechnics and Second Cycle institutions, the Akosombo Dam, the Adomi Bridge among others.

WE think that like any human being who is fallible, Dr Nkrumah may have his shortfalls but, no matter how you assess him, his achievements undoubtedly outweigh his shortcomings.

AS we celebrate the life of a man who fought for our freedom from our British Colonial masters, let us be more united and forge ahead for development in order to realize the dreams of the Great Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah.