Happy Independence Day (March 6 1957-March 6 2010)!

I believe the pictures speak for themselves, but let me say it anyway: Ghana obtained independence from Britain exactly 53 years Saturday 6 March, 1957, with the memorable words ushered by great Pan-Africanist and founder of Ghana Dr.Kwame Nkrumah:

"At long last, the battle has ended. Ghana--our beloved country--is free forever!"

There have naturally been reminders of this on television and radio, and for those alien to Ghanaian culture (am unsure how you can be if you've been following this blog for almost 4 years now;-) ) there's a website to find out more:

http://www.ghana.gov.gh/anniversary/
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Ghana's New Holiday--"Founder's Day" (21st September). Dr.Nkrumah's day!

Given that pictures paint the proverbial thousand words, I am going to leave a sampling of some of the headlines from Ghanaian dailies--(from top to bottom): Ghanaian Times; Daily Graphic; Ghana Palaver. I have begun creating a specific album for photo captures of Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah, the Founder of Ghana. Monday began the 9-month celebration of the centenary of his life. He must have been something special to have a whole 9 months dedicated to his celebration. The truth?

He was!

He built our Tema motorway in the late 1940s. It still stands strong todqay. He built our Akosombo dam, which still gives us electricity--despite the fact that we are 22.5 million now as compared to 6 million in 1957!

Words are insufficient to explain the man, but the headlines--including the fact that he should inspire the youth--already attest to the greatness of the man. For non-Ghanaians, a quick google search will give you a good insight, but let me leave you with the fact that in 2000, listeners to no less than than British Broadcasting Corporation voted him the Man of the Millenium. Here is the quote back then:

Last December, BBC listeners in Africa voted Kwame Nkrumah, the first head of an independent Ghana their "Man of the Millennium". But although Nkrumah triumphantly led Ghana to independence in 1957, by February 1966 he had been overthrown in a coup and spent the remaining six years of his life languishing in exile.

If You Ever Doubted You were Watching Accra...

...well, I guess, now you don't!;) I have to confess that I have been excessively attached to taking pictures of the Accra Mall, which has become a de rigeur kind of place to take and visit.

Let's just say I ain't refraining any time soon!

Seriously, it's a place, where changes are most visible quickly, and the psychedelic nature of it all makes for a great place to snap pics of.

I like this picture for the way in which it captures the signboard indicating Accra, Tema, and Legon and juxtaposes it against the front of the Accra Mall.

It was not deliberate to omit mentioning Achimota. It is important to add that both Legon and Achimota are lexicons of academic excellence, with the former being the site where the University of Ghana is located, and the latter a seriously awe-inspiring name that is also a by-word for excellence as far as schooling is concerned. Ghana's first (and late) president Osagyefo Dr.Kwame Nkrumah and former President (1992-1996) Jerry John Rawlings are alumnae.

More on Achimota on another date, but suffice-to-say that it is a place where the so-called crème de la crème mix and mingle with a view to becoming the "best" in society. It is, ofcourse, only one of many schools in Accra and the country, but is certainly the most well-known.