Over this week, we have a Kwame Nkrumah theme at Ghanablogging. I thought I'd write about an important aspect of Nkrumah's legacy. The industrial harbor town of Tema. My new hometown. (I know its beside the point, but also there is almost nothing about Tema, GH, online!)
Let's start my exposé on Tema with Nkrumah's own words. We go back to February 10th, 1962 and the Official Opening of the Tema Harbor. Kwame Nkrumah walks up to a podium and gives his speech.
"By taking advantage of the river systems of West Africa, it should be possible - again, by concerted action - to connect the hinterland, far outside the boarders of Ghana, with this great port of Tema. Thus, in this harbour of Tema, we see a unifying force and an essential requirement in the progress towards African Unity"Hence, Tema was just one part of the grandiose plan of Africa rising. Tema should be a harbor not just for Ghana, but for Africa. Still today, Burkina Faso, Mali and other landlocked countries are highly dependent on the Tema harbor. What whould they be today without this sea port?
Nkrumah continued his speech with comparing the existing Takoradi harbor "designed by the colonialists to facilitate the exportation of the wealth of the country" to this new sea port. He said:
"Tema is the sign post of the future. It represents the purposeful beginning of the industrialisation of Ghana. It is the signal for industrial expansion, a challenge to our industry and intelligence and a hope for the future."Tema and its connection to a bright Pan-African future will be my starting point for future deliberations on Tema.
Pic: My first view of the Tema harbor, Xmas 2004.
5 comments:
Interesting read on Nkrumah. The man had visions and missions. All that he said some over forty years ago are still relevant today.
It is a pain to see Nkrumah's legacy deteriorate because of lack of maintenance. The motorway leading to the Harbor city has not been in the best of shapes. This would have been very different if he were alive
Well researched and beautifully written. Interesting.
Great post Kajsa! The more we learn about the founding fathers, the more Ghana can move ahead. Sankofa!!!
I will try to follow the monthly theme FOR ONCE this time too :)
Memorable!
Thanks Kajsa.
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