Czech President visits Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
The President of the Czech Republic, Petr Pavel, yesterday visited the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park to pay homage to the country’s first president where he also learnt about his life and legacy.
The park, designed by Don Arthur, is the iconic final resting place of the first President of Ghana, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and his wife, Fathia Nkrumah.
President Pavel was accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, and other officials.
The delegation was welcomed by the acting Director of the park, Edward Quao, and the Director, Culture and Creative Arts of the Ministry of Tourism, Arts & Culture (MoTAC),
Devine Owusu-Ansah, who led them to tour the park.
The visit formed part of President Pavel’s three-day state visit to Ghana, which is also his first official visit.
It also marked a moment of deep historical reflection and renewed bilateral friendship between the two countries.
Tour
Mr Quao led the delegation to tour the Freedom Hall, where a state vehicle used by the former President, a vintage Cadillac, made in the US and secured with bulletproof features in Bulgaria, had been parked.
President Pavel also visited the bronze statue of Nkrumah mounted at the exact spot he stood to declare the country’s Independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957.
The President later laid a wreath in front of the giant statue of Dr Nkrumah, as a mark of respect.
The delegation then proceeded to the catafalque raised at the centre of the park where the remains of Dr Nkrumah and his wife, Fathia, were interred.
Another wreath was laid in honour of Dr Nkrumah’s legacy as a pioneering figure in the country’s independence struggle and African liberation movement.
Museum
President Pavel further toured the museum, where the former president’s personal belongings, publications and photographs showing his life history, are displayed.
Some unique artefacts relating to the country’s independence, including President Nkrumah’s official desk, “Sese stool”, a mechanical clock (1962), a hand fan, two walking sticks (his favourite and another a gift from a friend in New York), are displayed.
The rest are a piano he often played at the Peduase Lodge during his presidency (1960-1966), a sofa, lamp, and a grandfather’s clock, among others.
President Pavel ended his tour at the VVIP Lounge where he signed the Visitors’ Book.
