Madam Deputy Speaker, I feel honoured to participate, and, in fact, to open this debate on Ghana's 50th independence anniversary, particularly because Ghana was my first country of exile in the late 1950s.
When Dr Nkrumah, who was born in 1912, which is the same year as the birth of the ANC, returned from abroad to the then Gold Coast colony to take up the responsibility as Secretary-General of an organisation called the United Gold Coast Convention, UGCC, promoted by political giants such as Dr J B Danquah, he brought with him not only his youthful vibrancy but also a considerable wealth of political understanding, experience and leadership - capabilities that proved decisive in propelling the then Gold Coast struggle to achieve independence as Ghana. The UGCC was later to become the CPP - the Convention People's Party - under Dr Nkrumah. Having stayed in America for ten years and about two to three years in England, partly studying to expand his knowledge, Dr Nkrumah had developed great interest in, and had interacted broadly with ideas of African Pan- Africanism as espoused by Afro-American leaders of political thought on Africa. These included such leaders as Marcus Garvey and Dr W E B du Bois. These and other ideas were propagated with great vigour by the CPP, leading to Ghana's attainment of independence at 12 midnight on 6 May 1957.
Madam Deputy Speaker, Ghana's independence ushered in a new epoch on the continent which was to restore the dignity of the African people, and firmly cut ties with a miserable past, characterised by centuries of slavery, persecution, exploitation, racial discrimination and negative perceptions, all advocated and practiced by colonial masters.
From the start Dr Nkrumah put Ghana positively on the world map as a country of full promise as he stood steadfastly for the overthrowing of colonialism and all its offshoots, not only in Ghana but elsewhere in the world and especially in Africa.
Because of the values Dr Nkrumah believed in and stood for, namely unity and solidarity, almost immediately after independence Ghana organised and hosted the All Africa Conference, the first conference of the then independent states attended by countries such as Egypt and Ethiopia. Delegates from liberation movements in Africa participated, including the ANC, which was led by the late ANC President O R Tambo; the PAC was there, KANU of Kenya, liberation movements from the then Rhodesia, now Zimbabwe, and Tanganyika, now Tanzania. The impact of African Pan-Africanism as propagated at that conference became clearly visible in policies subsequently pursued by such African leaders as Mwalimu Julius Nyerere of Tanzania and Dr Kenneth Kaunda of Zambia and is actually visible in our own country's foreign policy today.
Carrying out its obligations and fulfilling its promises to the people of Ghana, Dr Nkrumah's government quickly set out to remedy disparities entrenched by centuries of colonial rule. The challenge then was to fight poverty and underdevelopment. Dr Nkrumah had a clear vision as to where he wanted to take Ghana. He always proclaimed that the government wanted to see every Ghanaian liberated, even in the remotest areas of the country.
Thus the government wasted no time putting in place programmes that would not only give political or cultural independence but also economic independence. Putting up infrastructureF, such as roads, schools, including tertiary institutions that did not exist before, was made a priority. For example, in colonial days roads connecting the main cities in Ghana were very narrow, a mere strip of tar enabling only one car at a time to pass. Should there be an oncoming car, one of the cars had to give way to allow the other one to pass. Such was the state of road infrastructure passed on to Ghanaians by the British. But by 1960, only three years after independence, the government had succeeded in constructing a network of roads befitting any country proud of its independence.
School buildings of high quality started springing up, ensuring that every village in the rural area did not just have a primary school, but a high school as well. All high schools were of the same standard; it did not matter where they were located. I remember when we visited one of our friends who was teaching in a new school out in the bush and suddenly we came across this new high school with all the necessary infrastructure, including science laboratories, fully equipped libraries, though at that time there was still only one class, the Form 1 class. But since the school was to develop and go up to the sixth form, everything was already in place. And that is how Nkrumah built the schools, and such was the foresight and emphasis placed on education as the basis for development in Ghana.
In colonial times, there was only one university for the whole of English- speaking West Africa. That was Fouragh Bay located in Sierra Leone. But by 1959/1960 the Lagon University, the first in Ghana, had already been built. It was up and running and operating fully. A modern comprehensive technikon - also a first in Ghana - had been constructed and was located in Kumasi in central Ghana. New vocational training schools, putting emphasis on agricultural production and the fishing industry, were located in various villages throughout the country. This was an elaborate development programme aimed at absorbing the youth who did not make it to institutions of higher learning. In other words, it was also a way of preventing crime by ensuring that the youth were actually occupied, doing something.
Ghana's trade with overseas countries had been limited due to the lack of a deep harbour that could accommodate large ships. But, again, by 1960 the Tema Harbour at Accra was already functional, enabling easier transportation of Ghana's main export and foreign exchange-earning products such as cocoa, timber and gold.
To create more jobs and eradicate poverty, the Volta Dam Project was conceived. This was to be established for the large-scale exploitation and development of aluminium and the hydro-electric power in the Volta River. Through this ambitious project the government hoped that the whole area covering the Accra plains would fall under irrigation to boost agricultural production and that the country would be covered by an electric grid that would foster the development of large-scale industry to a great degree. The consequence of all these economic activities that were planned, as was envisaged, would be an increase in the national revenue. So, you can see a lot of thinking has gone into this planning.
But as we all know this project, in particular the Volta Dam project, was not to see the light of the day, not with the United Kingdom and Canada, as co-financiers developing cold feet and abandoning the Ghana government. However, the final nail to ensure that the project did not succeed was put in by an American-sponsored coup which deposed Dr Nkrumah in 1966, thus putting Ghana way back, where it had started.
As we celebrate the 50th independence anniversary of Ghana, it is imperative that we emphasise and appreciate Ghana's leadership and efforts to liberate both its people and those of Africa as a whole. Ghana's independence contributed much to sub-Saharan Africa's political struggle for freedom.
Some of these contributions can be summed up as follows: Firstly, Ghana led the way to prove in a concrete manner that colonies in Africa could attain independent statehood. Secondly, Ghana provided valuable stimulation on Pan- African ideas and goals, with Ghana under Dr Nkrumah being the propelling engine of those ideas. Thirdly, it reaffirmed the dignity of the African, giving a boost to his self-confidence and identity. Fourthly, Ghana's independence aroused African political consciousness more wildly and vigorously, with intense inspiration to the struggles for the attainment of freedom and statehood. Fifthly, Ghana's independence gave an impetus to ideas, concepts and efforts to promote African unity and solidarity. Sixthly, Ghana's independence prepared the way to the founding of the Organisation for African Unity, the OAU, which gave rise to today's African Union.
Today's Ghana, under the leadership of President John Kufuor continues to reclaim its leadership position and its leadership role in Africa. For example, Ghana was the first country to submit itself to the African Peer Review Mechanism, the APRM. They sometimes regard themselves as always the first. I think I agree. I thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. [Applause.]
Hon Madam Deputy Speaker and hon Members of Parliament, Ghana is this pioneering country, championing not only her independence, but blazing the lonely trail, so to say, for the emancipation of other African countries that were to follow, for the realisation of the total liberation of the continent of Africa is indeed an historic event never to be rewritten in a different way.
Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, has, like many of us on this African continent, a long and painful litany of colonial history and blatant if not brutal political economic oppression, let alone the degradation of a people by those who are powerful.
In the entire human history, there cannot be any people who would take kindly to their conquest and subjugation, even if they are less ready to retaliate against their victors or enslavers.
The vision and mere yearning for one's freedom is the basic ingredient of a people to claim back their freedom, dignity and humanity seized by stealth or might of conquerors. Colonialism ignored the foregoing reality of human history or arrogantly thought that their happy captives were incapable of such aspirations as those that beat in the hearts of all and any freedom-loving people and this is a note that we should take when we wield power.
The first spark of conquers for freedom, in my view, was lit in the 1806 Ashanti-Fante War, which led the Fante to abandon their allegiance to the Ashanti in favour of the British; thus the element of colonial divide and rule was brought into play. This of course set in a motion of a long series of wars, in which the Ashanti tried to ward off or minimise European power in their region.
From 1826 to the 1900s, the British fought a series of wars and campaigns against the Ashanti region. By the mid-1940s to the mid-1950s, all the regions in and around the Gold Coast were consolidated, heralding in the 1956 UN plebiscite that they, these territories, become part of Ghana when the Gold Coast achieved independence, the wind of change.
The new constitution of April 29, 1954 established a Cabinet of African Ministers drawn from all African legislatures chosen by direct election. This is when Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party, the CCP, won the majority of seats in the new legislative assembly.
Two years later, Prime Minister Nkrumah's Gold Coast government issued a White Paper categorically proposing for the then Gold Coast's independence. The British government agreed to this proposal. By March 6, 1957, Ghana became independent to inspire a strong flame and desire for freedom on the entire continent. Nkrumah was now hailed as Osagyefo, the victorious leader. Even we, then up and coming and young lovers of freedom and democracy down south, saw Ghana as a star of hope, a clarion call to break the chains of bondage.
This era, like eras of the dawn of freedom, had its good and bad sides. There was a quest to achieve and develop Ghana into a modern, semi- industrialised unitary state. This quest in itself set in motion the seeds of tension and dissent, not that dissent should be treasonable in democracy. The Convention People's Party's control was challenged and criticised. The outcome of these challenges was the provision of detention without trial for five years and later for 10 years. It all sounds very familiar. Apartheid, the Zanu PF regime in Zimbabwe, Darfur, etc, the abuse of power, politely put, the arrogance of power.
In 1961 a new constitution was adopted transforming the parliamentary system to a republican form of government headed by the powerful President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
Like suppression or oppression always breeding resentment and strife, the Ghanaian army and police toppled Nkrumah's regime as, it is said assisted by the CIA. Nkrumah was accused of flagrant abuse of individual rights and liberties, corruption, dictatorial practices, coupled with the deteriorating economy. Sounds very familiar again and very close to us. How and why on earth was the star of hope to fade this way? This fateful day of 24 February 1966 was indeed a blot on the inspiring star of Africa. The rest is history, as they say.
Ghana and Africa as a whole, including the freedom-loving people of the world, have every legitimate right to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana, if for anything but to rekindle that celestial star of Africa, to rise and shine once more, to pave the way forward to African unity and the overall renewal now manifesting itself as the African Renaissance, with its trust in Nepad and related endeavours, to embrace the entire continent and to take its rightful place among nations of the world.
Those who cannot learn from their own mistakes, selfishly or arrogantly are inviting peril. We congratulate, however, the pioneering spirit of Ghana and the people of Ghana and wish them well.
Last, but not least, an emerging democracy such as ours, South Africa, should avoid the retrogressive tendencies and pitfalls that the star of Africa, Ghana fell into. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
Deputy Speaker and hon members, the freedom and independence of Ghana in 1957 inspired the leaders and people of Africa in the noblest ways any African historian can bring to mind.
The Conference of Independent African States called by Kwame Nkrumah had begun to deliberate on the political and the economic future of a free and independent African continent. The conference focused on the contribution of Africa to world peace, the total eradication of colonialism and racism, co-operation with the United Nations, the promotion of good relations among free and sovereign nations, the promotion of continental peace and security, and the promotion of the political, cultural and economic wellbeing of all the people of Africa.
These were some of the salient principles that later influenced the establishment of the geo-political African entities, first the Organisation of African Unity, the OAU, and today the African Union, the AU, and its economic arm, the New Partnership for Africa's Development, Nepad.
It was the same spirit that motivated the Nigerian leader Nnamdi Azikiwe to illuminate on the renascent Africa, which must embody the fundamental basis of the philosophy of the new African, characterised by, inter alia, spiritual balance, social regeneration, economic determinism, mental emancipation, and political resurgence.
It is this philosophical base that, among other positive factors, motivated President Thabo Mbeki to re-introduce in this Parliament the debate on the African Renaissance. Regrettably, the debate could neither be deepened nor sustained in this House, including civil society. There were those who perceived that as a clarion call for the rise of black nationalism, while others feared an endless criticism of the historic failures of foreign ideologies. This attitude is delaying the true psychic, cultural and economic emancipation of the black majority in this country. Without this transformation, and unlike the people of Ghana and other independent African states, the black man in South Africa is in danger of forever remaining a dispensable participant in a process of modern-day enslavement of himself and his children.
President Mbeki summed it up well when he said: "We rarely speak about change or the absence of change in our minds." Thank you very much. [Applause.]
Madam Deputy Speaker and hon members, Ghana's independence 50 years ago marked the first important step for Africa to throw off the shackles of colonialism. In that sense, it was a triumphant occasion that still, 50 years on, should fill all of the people of the continent with joy. It marked the beginning of Africans again being in control of their own destiny. At the same time, we must remember that Ghana's initial freedom soon presented many challenges and problems. The military coups that followed, the charges of corruption, the accusations of ethnic preferential treatment in service delivery and the distribution of national resources became setbacks.
As the years of independence progressed in Ghana, many other African states emerged from colonialism and followed a similar path of hope, and disappointment, and renewed hope, but the nations of the continent have refused to bow down and accept the afro-pessimist view of the so-called inevitability of African suffering and underdevelopment. I thank you. [Time expired.] [Applause.]
President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana once said:
Africa is a paradox, which illustrates and highlights neo-colonialism. Her earth is rich, yet the products that come from above and below the soil continue to enrich not Africans predominantly, but groups and individuals who operate to Africa's impoverishment.
As we celebrate 50 years of Africa's first independence, let us commit ourselves to ensuring that all Africans are liberated from neo-colonialism, war, poverty and authoritarian regimes so that the ordinary people of this continent gain control of their own destinies and immense natural resources.
Let us also remember the millions of African brothers and sisters who have needlessly died as a result of resource wars on this continent. Let us give a moment of silence to those innocent who died and continue to die in African countries like the Congo, Sudan, Zimbabwe, Rwanda and Burundi. I thank you.
Madam Speaker, the ACDP would like to express its heartfelt congratulations to the people of Ghana with their country's celebration of 50 years of independence. Ghana, being one of the first African countries to obtain independence from colonial rule on the continent, at this stage of the African continent's history, is regarded as one of the most stable countries in the West African region. This is despite the independence history of military interventions from time to time. The country has been well-governed by a multiparty democracy since the early 1990s.
Madam Speaker, the economy of Ghana is fairly stable, being the second- largest producer of cocoa in the world, together with the export of gold. It has boosted the growth of the economy in Ghana, an average of 4% per annum, with 5,8% obtained in 2005. The economic growth is further boosted by strong developments in the agriculture and construction sectors. The ACDP wishes the nation of Ghana God's richest blessings. Thank you.
Madam Deputy Speaker, the uniqueness of Ghana's independence is that it was the product of Pan-Africanism, which triumphed at the fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester in 1945. That congress took this resilient African political philosophy home to Africa. Pan-Africanism passed the revolutionary test, and gave classical colonialism in Africa a knockout.
Ghana, through Dr Kwame Nkrumah, spearheaded the freedom movement of Africa. He had, on 6 March 1957, declared that Ghana's independence was nothing unless it was linked up to the total liberation of Africa. Nkrumah firmly held that political power is meaningless without economic power. He said: "In planning national development, the constant fundamental principle is the need for economic independence."
When the imperialists and their agents overthrew Nkrumah on 24 February 1966, he had established 68 sprawling state-owned factories producing every need of the Ghanaian people. There was free education, and medical services, which made Ghana the pride of a liberated African country. The treacherous coup against Ghana was aimed at destroying true African independence and economic liberation. The traitors and their masters who overthrew Nkrumah have serious lessons for us: Never again must Africans sell their interests and future for peanuts in order to serve the interests of the former colonial masters. Izwe lethu! [Our land!] [Applause.]
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. We indeed applaud and share in the ... [Interjections.]
Hon members, we have a choice of using plan B or going home and coming back tomorrow. We have 17 minutes left of the debate, and I am only going to ask you to please stop laughing at plan B. It is aimed at releasing you to go home.
Business suspended at 17:37 and resumed at 17:39.
Madam Deputy Speaker, we indeed applaud and share in the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the independence of Ghana. Ghana, which is certainly one of the most stable democracies in Africa, has come a long way, and like South Africa, however, faces similar challenges such as poverty, unemployment, skills shortages, to name a few.
The realisation that our local supply of qualified persons is shipping off for opportunities in Europe and elsewhere is a harsh reality. We need to ask ourselves why. Why is the continent of Europe or other states a more attractive investment for our graduates? Our growth and development is dependent on our graduates, our skilled artisans and our people. The potential for Africa's greatest needs to be realised is invested in our people so that we may reap the benefits and grow a nation, so that we too can have the destiny of a bright future.
As a democracy, we too were victims of colonialism. We celebrate the freedom and liberty of our people, and congratulate Ghana on this success. Thank you. [Applause.]
In congratulating Ghana on its 50 years of independence, the FD believes we must also extract lessons from their walk of freedom over these years.
Ghana's independence in 1957 ushered in a new wave of change sweeping over sub-Saharan Africa. Being the first country to gain freedom from colonial rule, there was much interest in following the way its new government, under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah, would perform. For instance, at the time of its independence, Ghana was producing 10% of the world's gold.
The road ahead, based on successful transformation to an independent state, appeared to bring a dawn of new hope to the Ghanaians who were led by their own kind. The leadership and intellectual qualities of Kwame Nkrumah were well suited for the challenges facing an independent Ghana.
It is sad to say that, after 50 years of independence, Ghanaians have very little to celebrate. We believe that the will to succeed at governing the country was uppermost in the minds of the leadership when they took possession of the land in 1957. However, what Nkrumah and his government were not able to do was to know how to rule over a pluralistic and independent-minded citizenry.
The eventual legacy of the rule of Nkrumah was one of dictatorship, imprisonment of opponents and creating a one-party state. The country's leaders over the subsequent years adopted this leadership style. If Ghana wishes to rid itself of this governing style, they will have to undertake a commission of inquiry into the root causes of their present troubles and deal with legacies left by bad leadership. Even though a country may have huge economic and social obstacles to overcome, we cannot agree with the words expressed in the news article by Gamal Nkrumah, the son of Kwame Nkrumah, who said: "Although we have a viable multi-party democracy in Ghana today, the problem in Africa is that democracy does not feed the people."
Democracy is the better of the creative energies of humanity to work for the good of all. We must ensure that we have the right mechanisms in place to ensure a just and equitable society. I thank you.
Madam Deputy Speaker, hon members, it gives me great pleasure to participate in this debate on the occasion of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of independency in Ghana. It further gives me great pleasure to share this platform with people such as the hon MaNjobe, who had the exhilarating experience of living in Ghana during those exciting times straight after independence.
It was after all this event on 6 March 1957, that changed the face of Africa, and which was a start of the process of reclaiming Africa's birthright and the dignity of the African people. Under the leadership of Dr Nkrumah, this heralded the beginning of the process of African independence in the modern era and this example served to stimulate the process towards ending colonialism across the continent. It was, of course, the beginning of the wave of independence, which swept the continent during the 60s and culminated in our own freedom 13 years ago.
Ghana's independence gave us much hope 50 years ago. And that country continues to give us hope on our new quest for economic emancipation for our economic independence.
In spite of its many post-independence trials and tribulations, modern-day Ghana has managed to straddle the two worlds of underdevelopment and development with much maturity and leadership. In the process, Ghana has become the embodiment of the vision of the African Renaissance. All of us on the continent have learnt many lessons from Ghana. One could say that Ghana has been a vanguard nation in 1957 and now. As one of the first nations on the continent to gain independence, Ghana has led the way as a stable country under democratic rule, and now also serves as an anchor of economic growth and development.
Endowed with great resources, Ghana was historically known, as you all know, as the Gold Coast or "Golden Ghana", partly for its storehouses of gold and partly because it was considered by its neighbours to be shining as bright as gold itself. Such was the attraction of gold that Ghana was of course a hive of economic activity drawing many foreign nations to our continental shores as successive colonial powers sought to secure a place in the booming trade in gold.
While political solidarity has kept us together as a continent through the tough years of apartheid and colonialism, we recognise that economic development is our current challenge. Political solidarity alone is not enough, but must be supported by strong economic co-operation.
With Ghana we enjoy excellent economic relations and it is a major trading partner of ours; in recent years trade growing tremendously between our two countries. There are, for example, about 35 South African multinational companies and smaller scale companies registered in Ghana. Since 1994, a capital injection of more than US$36 million from South African companies has been invested in Ghana. Also, there are an increasing number of other countries investing in Ghana because it enjoys one of the most sophisticated economies on the continent.
Consider this example from an article published in The Washington Post by Carol Pineau, entitled The Africa You Never See, in which she states:
In the waiting area of a large office complex in Accra, it is standing room only as citizens with bundles of cash line up to buy shares of a mutual fund that has yielded an average of 60% annually over the last seven years. They are entrusting their hard-earned cash to a local company called Databank, which invests in stock markets in Ghana, Nigeria, Botswana and Kenya that consistently rank amongst the world's top growth markets.
These are the things we do not read about in the newspapers. It is also little known, for example, that the Ghana Stock Exchange regularly tops the list of the world's highest-performing markets.
So, South Africa and Ghana continue to have strong ties both politically and economically. Our political relations will be given further impetus this year when in July we launch the Joint Co-operation Commission. Also, on the multilateral level, His Excellency, President Kufuor, chairs the African Union, and the July AU Summit will be held under his chairmanship in the Ghanaian capital of Accra.
Ghana also plays a key role in the Economic Community of West African States, Ecowas, mediating the various crises that have affected the volatile region from Sierra Leone to Cote d'Ivoire.
And under President Kufuor's leadership, Ghana was also the first country - as has been mentioned here before - to undergo the African Peer Review process, with a very positive result.
Both our countries share a common vision for the continent and the world. We both work towards the eradication of conflict on our continent and the peaceful resolution of disputes.
We are now in the early years of this new wave of independence in which we are actively striving to rid our continent of all the negative stereotypes associated with it, such as war, famine and disease, through developing our economies, investing in our infrastructure and people, and working with our partners on the African continent and beyond to build prosperous societies.
Ghana is today a stable democracy - a country admired by its neighbours in West Africa and in the international community. As a country that has contributed so much to the liberation of our continent from colonialism's bonds, Ghana plays a crucial role in contributing to the vision of a better Africa and a better world.
Towards this end, Ghana's foreign policy objectives continue to be directed towards the promotion of a just and equitable international economic and social order. These are ideals for which we stand and which we, too, promote.
As a young nation in democracy, we have learned from Ghana. She has produced a high calibre of leaders whose contribution to the vision of African Unity has left a lasting legacy. Today, as we strive to consolidate African unity, we remember the contribution that Kwame Nkrumah made.
As we celebrate the unstoppable trend towards democratisation, we remember that one of Ghana's greatest sons, Kofi Annan, has been instrumental through his extraordinary personal and professional efforts in elevating the African agenda to global forums.
As we celebrate the milestone African Union decision to strive for gender parity within all structures of organisation, we must not forget the legacy bestowed upon us by the Ashanti who place women as the final arbiter in all decisions in the Ashanti community.
Both our countries' people cherish and celebrate their diversity, so both our people are ready to rekindle the filial ties and kinship that had been suppressed by the artificial restrictions imposed by the apartheid regime.
We are hugely encouraged by the increasing people to people contacts from our respective countries. We also look forward to participating in Ghana in 2008 in the Africa Cup of Nations, and also to hosting the Black Stars at the Fifa World Cup here in 2010. Speaking of learning, we hope that we will learn a lot from the Black Stars in 2008 as our own team prepares for 2010.
We are indeed proud to associate ourselves with the cultural and sporting achievements of Ghana; their display of skill and finesse during the Soccer World Cup in Germany indeed filled many of us with pride and made us proud to be Africans.
Ghana has given us all hope - in 1957 and during this half centenary celebration in 2007. At the colourful and happy ceremony in Ghana's capital last week, President Kufuor said:
This is a celebration not only for Ghana but also for the whole of Africa. The date 6 March 1957 changed the outlook of Africa.
There is no doubt that Africa and many of its nations are making progress. I urge our young people to resolve to stay at home, use their energy and enthusiasm to serve Africa.
This resonates with us as we pursue our own political and economic objectives. We continued to be inspired by the successes of Ghana and the things they have taught us.
I wish to extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people and government of Ghana on 50 years of freedom. I thank you.
Debate concluded.