Africa

[Visited: September 2008]

While walking past the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, it seemed strange that the most obvious entrance was closed with a fence, where it was also forbidden to take pictures. This is probably an entrance normally only used for special occasions. The visitor entrance is around the corner. After buying your ticket, I had a stroll in the pleasant gardens with old and newly planted trees from dignitaries of other countries. When I reached the central area of the park, it turned out that the fountains were all silent. I could see the many statues of music players, and could only imagine what it would look like with fountains of water.
I walked towards the Mausoleum itself, first pausing at the bronze statue of Kwame Nkrumah towering high above me, and seemingly pointing towards the road ahead. This is, in fact, precisely the spot used by Kwame Nkrumah to declare Ghana independent on March 6, 1957. In the top of the monument, inevitably, the Black Star that is so typical for Ghana, symbolizing African freedom, also to be found in the flag of Ghana. The grey mausoleum stands on a small island and can be reached by concrete bridges. Inside, you can find a straightforward last resting place. The museum behind the mausoleum is worthwile, if only to see the small items that Kwame Nkrumah used during his life.
Kwame Nkrumah has a mythical name in Africa and especially Ghana. He was the first sub-Saharan leader to lead his country to independence in 1957, and turned it into a Republic in 1966. Kwame Nkrumah was convinced that Africa should unify in order to avoid all kinds of problems. Unfortunately, his lessons were not learned and at least in some corners of the continent, this must still be regretted. Nkrumah was ousted in a coup in 1966, and went into exile in Guinea, to become the co-president of the country. He never returned to Ghana alive.

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Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum > Ghana > Africa

[Visited: September 2008]

Around the World in 80 Clicks