NkrumahFest 2026 honors legacy of Ghana's first President

Leaders and descendants gathered at the 2026 NkrumahFest in Nkroful to commemorate the 117th birth anniversary of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah. The event focused on honoring his Pan-African legacy and addressing the historical absence of his family from his ancestral home.

Samia Nkrumah, daughter of the former President, apologized to the Nkroful community for the family’s long absence, citing the trauma caused by political instability and assassination attempts against her father. She pledged the family’s return to contribute to Ghana’s progress. She also rejected claims that the Ghanaian public universally welcomed her father’s 1966 overthrow, noting the destruction of his monuments as evidence of political division.

Political figures, including former NPP running mate Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh and NDC Chairman Johnson Asiedu Nketiah, called for national unity. They urged Ghanaians to rise above partisan politics to respect Nkrumah’s foundational role in nation-building. Meanwhile, the Convention People’s Party (CPP) emphasized the need to revive his visions of economic self-reliance and industrialization. Scholar Professor P. L. O. Lumumba noted that while Nkrumah’s impact was monumental, his dream of a fully liberated and united Africa remains an unfinished project.