Restored: Kwame Nkrumah’s birthplace receives facelift
The birthplace of Ghana's first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, at Nkroful in the Western Region has received a major facelift, making it a befitting place for both historical and tourism purposes.
The renovation works include repair and painting to preserve all the rooms in the home, as well as the cenotaph in the middle of the courtyard, which, per historical accounts, was where Maame Nyaniba, Nkrumah's mother, gave birth to him and also where he was first buried when his remains were brought in from Conakry, Guinea.
Nkrumah's birthplace was converted into a mausoleum, complemented with a library in the 1980s, to honour the memory and legacy of the visionary leader, as it also became his burial site when his remains were brought in from Conakry, Guinea, where he was first buried following his death in Bucharest, Romania, in 1972.
However, in 1992, when his remains were moved to Accra to the permanent resting place at the Kwame Nkrumah National Park, the Mausoleum at Nkroful was almost abandoned despite the persistent calls by the chiefs and people to government to renovate the place to befit its status as the birthplace of Ghana's first President.
Ten years ago, the Member of Parliament of Ellembelle, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, began the initiative to renovate the place and on Dr Nkrumah's birthday on September 21, this year, the renovated mausoleum was inaugurated, as part of activities to celebrate the legacy of Kwame Nkrumah.
Works
The entrance has been enhanced, turned into a warmer, welcoming point, and as one walks through the pathway, he or she gets to read some of the favourite quotes Dr Nkrumah made and which have been inscribed on the stretch of wall.
The kitchen, the courtyard, his hall and bedroom, as well as Maame Nyaniba's rooms, have all been redone, preserving their original clay interior.
Also, the first library, where many of the books Dr Nkrumah authored were kept before being brought to Accra, has been renovated to serve both the community and guests who will visit the facility.
With the renovation works completed, the mausoleum is now open to receive guests all year round.
Spirit of Nkrumah
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic, Mr Buah, who is also the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, said the decision to undertake such an exercise was to ensure that the spirit of the son of Nzema lives on in the hearts and minds of his people.
"The spirit of Nkrumah, a true son of Nzema, never left us. Renovating the mausoleum has been to preserve that. We may have taken the body of Nkrumah out of Nzema, but his spirit remains," Mr Buah said.
He said that was reflective in how the people of Nzema and many others have embraced the idea to celebrate the life and legacy of Ghana's first President with the organisation of the annual pilgrimage to Nkroful, which has been dubbed: Nkrumahfest: The Journey to Nkroful.
Expansion, Nkrumah’s sanctuary
Mr Buah said, given the overwhelming endorsement of the event, discussions have been deepened to expand the works to cover other places where Nkrumah was linked to, to make the Journey to Nkroful more than just a spiritual exercise.
The welcoming entrance to the Mausoleum
He said the next phase of the works will cover a villa at Half Assini, which was described as Nkrumah's 'sanctuary.'
The MP said the villa was a place of retreat for the former President, where he often went to for healing, rejuvenation and meditation.
"This is part of the bigger picture of creating a complete tourism attraction and an economic advantage for the people.
We will expand to include other facilities and, by so, create a whole footprint of Osagyefo's legacy.
Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah (with mic), MP for Ellembelle, and some dignitaries at the inauguration of the refurbished mausoleum
"For instance, the Nkrumah Sanctuary at Half Assini, where Nkrumah usually retreated to heal on the many occasions when there was an attempt to take his life and also to meditate for rejuvenation, will be rehabilitated to serve as a Meditation and Spiritual Centre for guests.
"Beyond the sanctuary, the idea is also to create a recreational centre to ensure that it becomes a converging point for everyone, serving a spiritual renewal purpose and also an economic opportunity for the people," Mr Buah emphasised.
The Ellembelle MP further said a lot of work has gone into cleaning up the Subile River, the river behind Nkrumah's home at Nkroful, which also holds both historical and spiritual significance to the community and which is an equally important part of the journey.
The reception area of the Mausoleum
It was in that river that Nkrumah, then a toddler, caught a fish and after which a spiritual leader in the community prophesied his greatness, asking Maame Nyaniba to prepare a meal for the boy with that fish.
"River Subile holds historical significance, being closely tied to Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s legacy and a lot of work has been done to restore it from the impact of illegal mining.
"Going forward, more effort will be put into preserving it from being polluted again to ensure it holds its place and plays a significant role in the legacy of Osagyefo," Mr Buah stated.
