The Pan-African Progressive Front (PPF) acknowledges the statement issued by the Accra Collective of the Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) commemorating the 117th birth anniversary of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the modern Republic of Ghana. In its Founder's Day message, SMG described the occasion not as a moment of nostalgia but as a renewed commitment to the unfinished struggle for national liberation, economic sovereignty and socialist transformation across Africa.
Honouring Nkrumah's legacy
The statement highlights Nkrumah's central role in mobilizing workers, farmers, market women, youth and other ordinary Ghanaians into a mass anti-colonial movement that led to Ghana's independence on 6 March 1957. It also recalls his vision of building a modern industrial nation through public investment in education, healthcare, infrastructure and state-led development.
SMG argues that the historical record establishes Kwame Nkrumah as the principal architect of modern Ghana and reaffirms that Founder's Day is fundamentally a recognition of his contribution to the country's liberation.
Economic independence remains unfinished
A major focus of the statement is the continued relevance of Nkrumah's analysis of neo-colonialism. SMG contends that many African economies remain dependent on exporting raw materials while importing higher-value manufactured goods, leaving them vulnerable to debt, austerity measures and external financial influence.
The organization calls for Ghana's natural resources to be placed under democratic public control and directed toward industrialization, decent employment, universal education, healthcare, housing and social protection.
Solidarity with working people
The statement concludes by expressing solidarity with Ghana's working class, including farmers, miners, teachers, nurses, artisans, market women, transport workers and people in the informal economy. It calls for a living wage, secure employment, stronger labour rights and greater economic justice, while emphasizing the leadership of women and young people in building a transformed society.
PPF joins progressive forces across Africa in recognizing the enduring relevance of Kwame Nkrumah's vision of Pan-African unity, economic liberation and social justice, and welcomes continued dialogue among movements committed to advancing these ideals.
Source: Statement by the Accra Collective of the Socialist Movement of Ghana, issued 21 September 2026.