Book on Nkrumah's Legacy launched

Accra, July 14, GNA - Dr Ishmael Yamson, Chairman of the Governing Council of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, on Tuesday launched a book on the political heritage of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, written by Professor Ali Mazrui, a Kenyan Historian and Scholar.

The 62-page book entitled: 'Nkrumah's Legacy and Africa's Triple Heritage", was a compilation of Prof. Mazrui's, Aggrey-Fraser-Guggieberg Memorial Lecture of the University in 2002.

The University instituted the annual lecture, in 1957, to commemorate the contributions of the three founders of the country's premier Achimota College.

The book cover topics like: "Nkrumahism in the Shadow of Globalisation", "Nkrumahism in the Shadow of Counter-terrorism" and "Nkrumahism out of the Shadows."

Dr Yamson desribed the book as a well researched material and urged the reading public to patronise it.

Professor Kwadwo Asenso-Okyere, Vice Chancellor of the UG, said despite the political shortcomings of the late Dr Nkrumah, there was no dispute that he had the foresight to develop the human capacity base of Ghana.

He said Dr Nkrumah agitated for the establishment of the University College of the Gold Coast, which made it possible for many Ghanaians to be educated, despite suggestions for the setting up of a University for West Africa in Ibadan, Nigeria.

Prof Asenso-Okyere said in recognition of Nkrumah's contribution to the country's development and Pan-Africanism, the UG had re-named the Institute of African studies and the International Hostel after him. He noted that Prof. Mazrui's Book, revealed the need for political tolerance as a prerequisite for peace and tranquillity.

The Book, he said also highlighted the cultural and ideological differences among political leaders.

Prof. Mazrui who is the Director of the Institute of Global Culture Studies at Binghamton University, in the US, described Nkrumah as an intellectual, philosopher-king, a ruler of vision and prolific writer who linked his thoughts to action and vision to policy.

He said as a philosopher of the African condition, Dr Nkrumah stimulated himself as a Pan-Africanist.

Prof. Mazrui said this eventually cumulated into the concept: The Africa's Triple Heritage-the convergence of Africanity, Islam and the impact of the West.

The Kenya Scholar, used the concept into an international television series called, "The African: A Triple Heritage", which was jointly produced by the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Public Broadcasting Service (WETA, Washington), in association with the Nigerian Television Authority.

Prof. Mazrui has lectured in many universities and published more than 20 books and hundreds of articles in leading journals. Dr Freddy Blay, First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, urged African writers to market the Region by writing more about Africans. The first copy of the Book, which has a cover price of 50 thousand cedis, was auctioned at 1.5 million cedis.