“Revolutions are brought about by men, by men who think as men of action and act as men of thought.” – Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
“Welcome to Nkroful, the birthplace of the first President of Ghana.” This inscription was plainly engraved on a signpost at the Esiama village junction turnoff, about five kilometers from the small, rural community where a legendary leader was born.
For me, this trip to Nkroful was a deeply personal journey. I first read about Nkroful in my Class four (4) English Course reader. I never thought I would stand there one day, take a few pictures at the graveyard of Madam Nyaniba (Kwame Nkrumah’s mother), and speak with a relative of Kwame Nkrumah, a man whose ambition was a force of nature. To walk on that ground was to step out of history and into a living story.
To truly grasp Nkrumah’s journey, you have to understand Nkroful. It is a fascinating and almost poetic coincidence that both Nkrumah and Nkroful begin with the three letters “N” “K and “R”. The man and his home are forever linked.
We often imagine great leaders being born into privileged homes, but here, the truth is far more powerful. This was a simple village, likely without many modern conveniences as far back as 21st September,1909. Yet from this quiet corner of the world, a man emerged who would not only lead Ghana to independence but would become a symbol of hope for an entire continent. His journey from this small, isolated community to the global stage shows the power of human will.
My visit a decade ago showed a place still grappling with its past and present.The state of the road from Esiama to Nkroful was jarring. I reckon a place that, in 1909, must have been completely off the grid, with few educated people.
How could the birthplace of the man who built one of Ghana’s finest highways, the Accra-Tema Motorway, still suffer from such neglect? I found myself wondering what Nkrumah would think if he could see his hometown today. Would he be proud of the progress? Or would he be disappointed by how slow things have been?I felt the powers that be could have honoured him with a first-class road to his hometown.
Yet, there’s a timeless question that feels very relevant here: “Can anything good come out of Nkroful?” The answer, as Nkrumah proved, is yes. The young boy from Nkroful became Ghana’s “Show Boy,” a leader who defied all expectations.
As I walked on the streets of Nkroful, I was struck by the sight of children playing freely and some near Nkrumah’s white family house. Their laughter echoed through the air, and in their bright, innocent smiles, I saw a reflection of the future. It was a powerful reminder that Nkrumah’s legacy isn’t confined to history books; it lives on in the very spirit of this town. Each child, with their energy and pure joy, holds a piece of that legacy.
They are the living embodiment of Nkrumah’s vision, a new generation ready to embrace their potential and carry the torch of greatness. They are the future leaders, innovators, and dreamers, inspired not just by the story of a great man, but by the very ground he once walked.
I think the same is true for all of us. No matter where we are, we can rise to greatness and make the world a better place.
It is worthy to mention that the refreshing part of the experience was discovering the small, intimate details that are often untold but are very much alive at Nkrumah’s Mausoleum in Nkroful.I learned about the river where he bathed whenever he returned home, and the incredible stories associated with it.The preservation of his bedroom, his mother’s kitchen, and his serene final resting place added a human touch to the story that is still not lost on me.
After a decade, a question that had lingered in my mind found its answer. I had first written about my visit to Nkroful years ago on my Facebook timeline and one of the memories of the journey was the dilapidated road from Esiama to Nkroful. A recent call to a friend confirmed the incredible news: the road to Nkrumah’s hometown has been fixed. I can imagine Nkrumah looking down with a smile on his face, seeing that the path to his birthplace is no longer neglected but is a smooth and dignified road leading to the heart of his legacy.
On this Founder’s Day, we can honour his legacy not with words alone, but with action. The truest tribute we can offer is to embrace our own potential and make a difference, however small. Just as Nkrumah rose from humble beginnings to influence a continent, we too can start from wherever we are and work to build a better world.
As Nkrumah himself said, “Those who would judge us merely by the heights we have achieved would do well to remember the depths from which we started.”
Happy Founder’s Day!
