Inculcating spirit of patriotism in citizenry
The nation is today celebrating one of its illustrious sons, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana.
The day marks the 113th birthday of the first President.
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It is worthwhile celebrating the birthday and also use the day to ponder over his good works.
The Daily Graphic, in our lead story, reiterates the need to inculcate the spirit of patriotism in the citizenry.
This view is shared by the various interviewees, who have all expressed the need to promote the spirit of patriotism to ensure progress and development.
We think for some time now we have lost this important aspect of our everyday activities.
The virtue of patriotism is to have love for one's country and compatriots, a concern beyond what we owe other people and communities.
These days, people do not want to work hard, while they are prepared to do anything untoward to achieve their selfish desires.
As a result of this negative behaviour, the sustainable progress of the nation is undermined.
Unfortunately, the man we are celebrating today stood for all the values that centred on patriotic gestures, love for country and pan-Africanism. No wonder that during his tenure of office, the country also achieved a lot of development.
Dr Nkrumah’s Seven-Year Development Plan provided the blueprint for the future progress and development of the country and the use of science and technology to revolutionise “our agriculture and industry”.
It was designed to provide the basis not only for our national progress and prosperity but also our ability to contribute to the advancement of the African continent.
He established projects and factories, such as the Akosombo Dam, the Zuarungu Meat Factory, the Pwalugu Tomato Factory, the Bolgatanga Rice Mills, the Kumasi Shoe Factory, Takwa Bonsa Tyre Factory, the Aboso Glass Factory, just to mention a few across the country, that created jobs but are now defunct.
His plan had always been a road map worth pursuing.
Dr Nkrumah was not a perfect person, but the principles and values he stood for will always be worthy of emulation.
We have always insisted that a nation that fails to honour its heroes is not worth dying for. That is why we will always encourage the nation to celebrate its achievers.
Right from the First Republic, it appears the spirit of patriotism was high, but over the period, it is waning speedily. What accounts for this can be anybody’s guess.
People are now more self-centred than national-centred, are greedy to acquire wealth through foul means and the get-rich-quick attitude, notwithstanding the consequences.
It is sad that the party formed by Dr Nkrumah, the CPP, is now a divided house against itself and efforts for a united front have been unsuccessful.
You cannot say you are a believer in the principles and values of Dr Nkrumah when your house is divided.
That is why we expect the CPP and allied Nkrumahist forces to come together and work to enhance the fortunes of the country.
As the country celebrates the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, the Daily Graphic urges the citizenry to be inspired by the values he espoused by placing the country first in all their endeavours before personal interests. This way, the country will witness accelerated development.
