when the first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah declared the
country free from British colonial rule on 6 March 1957, was on Monday
re-enacted at the old polo grounds in Accra.
At 12 midnight, members of the Ghana Actors Guild stood at the
exact spot now transformed into Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum to dramatise
the declaration of independence by leaders of the Convention Peoples
Party, shaking the national monument overlooking the old Parliament
House with shouts of joy.
Ace actor David Dontoh, who played the role of Dr. Nkrumah broke
the silence of the night with a baritone voice that sounded like that
of Dr Nkrumah to declare the famous and historic words: "Ghana your
beloved country is free forever."
"Our Independence is meaningless until it is linked up to the
total liberation of the African Continent," Dontoh declared and thus
bringing Dr Nkrumah back to memory.
The large gathering that comprised President John Agyekum Kufuor,
Vice President Alhaji Aliu Mahama, President Olusengu Obasanjo of
Nigeria, members of the diplomatic corps and tourists were later
treated to highlife songs and fireworks that brightened up the skies.
The drama was preceded by various cultural performances by
members of the Guild that depicted unity in diversity of the five
regions of Ghana at independence, comprising the Northern Territories,
Trans Volta Togoland, the Colony, Ashanti and
Brong-Ahafo. Dancers from Malawi also added colour to the night by
performing a show that portrayed the country's colonial struggle.
06 March 07
