Founders day and Centenary Birthday Celebration

Agoo, Awome ke Ataame,
Nyemei ke Tsemei,
Niimei ke Naamei Twa, twa, twa, Omanya abla wo!
Twa, Omanye abla wo! Prof John Evans Atta Mills, President of the Republic of Ghana
Mr. John Dramani Mahama, Vice-President of the Republic of Ghana
Rt. Hon. Speaker of Parliament
Her Ladyship, The Chief Justice
Members of the Council of State
Hon. Ministers of State and Members of Parliament
Members of the Diplomatic Corps
Colleague Members of the Centenary Planning Committee
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen

On behalf of the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Planning Committee, and in name of Government and People of Ghana, I bid a warm welcome to you, our Chiefs and People, Foreign Dignitaries and Invited Guests assembled here.

In line with Kwame Nkrumah’s concerns, I also extend a special welcome to the workers, the youth and students who have come from all corners of Ghana and of Africa; from the African diaspora; and from all parts of the world.

We are gathered here to celebrate the centenary of the birth of Kwame Nkrumah.
You may wonder why. Simply put, in commemorating and memorializing a Kwame Nkrumah and his times, we acknowledging a foundational phase of his times, we are acknowledging a foundational phase of the history of Ghana and of Africa. May I take this opportunity to commend the Government of Ghana for taking the initiative to launch the Centenary Celebrations, and the Heads of State of the African Union, who at the Summit meeting in Sirte, Libya, unanimously called on all Member States “to celebrate … the 100th Birthday Anniversary of President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana’.

As you will have noted, The Celebrations Programme is designed:
o To recall the heroic era of the Independence movements and the struggle to emancipate the continent of Africa;
o To unite Ghanaians, and inspire us to have pride and confidence in ourselves;
o To rekindle the drive for genuine unification of our continent; and to invite All Africans; wherever they may be, to seek to excel.

In conclusion, I have great pleasure, on behalf of the Government and the Kwame Nkrumah Centenary Planning Committee, to welcome you to this Grand Pageant and Durbar, marking the centenary of the birth of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, First President of the Republic of Ghana.

Let us endeavour to re-connect with Kwame Nkrumah’s
• Boldness of vision,
• His faith in the power of the ordinary person
• His commitment to the unity of Ghana and of Africa, and
• The confidence to dream, to dare and to do. Ye ma mo nyinaa, AKWAABA!

Thank you.