IFP Congratulates Ghana On 50th Anniversary Of Independence

MEDIA STATEMENT RELEASED BY:
MR BEN SKOSANA MP
IFP SPOKESPERSON ON FOREIGN AFFAIRS

March 6, 2007

Today the Inkatha Freedom Party joins President Thabo Mbeki and Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma in celebrating with the Leadership and people of Ghana their 50th Anniversary of Freedom and Independence from British Colonial Rule, said the IFP's Spokesperson on Foreign Affairs, Mr Ben Skosana MP today.

"We congratulate Ghana on becoming a free and independent country on March 6, 1957 under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah - founder and first president of modern Ghana and one of the most influential African leaders of the 20th century," said Mr Skosana.

"True to his quest for a United Africa, Nkrumah called a Conference of Independent African States, which met in Accra-Ghana in 1958. Nkrumah believed that the African personality, cultures and identities had been damaged in the name of civilisation. Furthermore, he believed that self-governance of a free and Independent Africa would restore the collective, historical consciousness so impaired by Colonial Rule.

In conclusion Mr Skosana said: "The IFP applauds and congratulates Ghana for becoming the first black African nation to break free from colonialism.  Its leader, Kwame Nkrumah, had set a course not just for the country, but for the whole continent of Africa."


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr Ben Skosana MP: 082 887 2779
Liezl van der Merwe: 083 611 7470