|
Nkrumah's hometown demands
share of Mausoleum revenue
By Masahudu Ankiilu Kunateh, Ghanadot
Accra, Aug 23, Ghanadot -
Residents of Nkroful in the
Western Region are passionately demanding their share of
proceeds accrued from the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum in Accra.
According to the aggrieved residents, the exhumation of the
mortal remains of Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
from his hometown in Nkroful to Accra has deprived the area
of economic benefits.
Voicing their displeasure to an Accra based radio station,
Joy FM, they said the first president is very much revered
and even in death, residents still reaped revenue from
tourism.
However, the exhumation of the mortal remains from the area
some ten years ago changed all that.
Nkroful is left with only the mythical tale of River Subri
for tourists who visit the town.
The mythology of the river is that Dr. Nkrumah during his
days as president made the Subri
River to “swell”, just by pouring libation on its banks.
This occurred anytime he received reports that the Subri
River was drying up.
Another myth has it that Dr. Nkrumah, whiles a toddler and
saddled behind his mother’s back while she crossed the
famous river, told her mother, Nyaniba that she had stepped
on a fish. The revelation, according to local traditions,
turned out to be true.
These enthralling mythologies about the River Subri
notwithstanding, it has failed to attract appreciable
visits, forcing residents to demand their share of proceeds
from the Accra Mausoleum.
Some sympathisers say that the
residents of the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah'
home town have a point since,
and after the
demise of the Osagyefo,
present and successive governments have
turned their back on the people.
They claim that as Ghana and
indeed the whole continent of Africa commemorate the 100
anniversary of Dr.
Kwame Nkrumah, a true Pan
Africanist, the people of his
hometown Nkroful must
deserve better.
Ghanadot
|
