Lebanese Community marks Nkrumah Day
The Ghana Chapter of the World Lebanese Cultural Union, a non-governmental organisation representing the Lebanese Diaspora, last Saturday laid a wreath at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park in Accra to commemorate the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
The day, which falls on September 21, every year, is a public holiday in Ghana and the Lebanese association celebrated the event to honour Dr Nkrumah for his contribution to the liberation of Africa from colonial rule.
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It also laid a wreath on the tomb of the wife of the late President, Madam Fathia Nkrumah, whose remains lie beside those of her husband.
The solemn wreath-laying ceremony lasted about an hour, after which members of the association toured the historic park.
Nkrumah the inspirer
In a speech read on his behalf by the Deputy General Secretary of the union, Mr Christian Nasr, the President of the World Lebanese Cultural
Union, Mr Chakib Ramma, described Dr Nkrumah as an inspirer of freedom who needed to be celebrated by the world, adding: “His desire to see Africa succeed was immeasurable.”
Mr Ramma said Dr Nkrumah was a “man of positive resistance, a revolutionist and an honest man who believed in democracy and peace”.
He said the memory of the late President would live forever and that the Lebanese people were inspired by his vision for Africa and his selflessness while he was President.
“Your name is written in history, along with that of other great personalities who fought and sacrificed their lives for their people for their country’s freedom,” he added.
Mr Ramma further stated that Ghana’s first President was a dignified man who made a lot of sacrifices for Ghanaians which must be emulated by all.
Interview
In an interview, the President of the Ghana Chapter of the World Lebanese Cultural Union, Mr Daniel Diab, told the Daily Graphic that Dr Nkrumah’s development agenda for Ghana was enormous.
He made reference to his visionary projects such as the Accra-Tema Motorway, the Komenda Sugar Factory, as well as his zeal to see the total liberation of Africa, as some of the landmark projects which made him stand out as a great leader.
“History remembers and writes in its immortal books great people like Kwame Nkrumah,” he added.