50th Celebration of Independence of Ghana

National Assembly Cape Town: 15 March 2007  

The freedom and the Independence of Ghana in 1957 inspired the leaders and people of Africa in the most noblest ways any African Historian can bring to mind.

The Conference of Independent African States called by Kwame Nkrumah had begun to deliberate on the political and economic future of a free and independent African Continent. The Conference focussed on:
- The contribution of Africa to World Peace
- Total eradication of Colonialism and Racism
- Cooperation with the United Nations (UN)
- The promotion of good relations among free and Sovereign States
- The promotion of the Political, Cultural and Economic wellbeing of all the people of Africa

These were some of the salient principles that later influenced the establishment of the Geo-Political African Entities first the Organisation of the African Unity (OAU) and today the African Union (AU) and its economic arm the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD).

It was the same spirit that motivated the Nigerian Leader Namdi Azikiwe to illuminate on the "Renascent Africa" which must embody the fundamental bases of the philosophy of the "New African" characterised by inter alia"
- Spiritual balance
- Social regeneration
- Economic determinism
- Mental emancipation and
- Political resurgence

It is this philosophical base that among other positive factors, motivated President Thabo Mbeki to reintroduce in this Parliament the debate on the "African Renaissance". Regrettably the debate could neither be deepened nor sustained in this House including the Civil Society.

There were those who perceived that as a Clarion call for the rise of Black Nationalism, while other feared an endless criticism of the historic failures of foreign ideologies.

This attitude is delaying the true psychic, cultural and economic emancipation of the Black majority in this country. Without this transformation, and unlike the people of Ghana and of other Independent African States, the Black man in South Africa is in danger of forever remaining a dispensable participant in a process of Modern day enslavement of himself and his children.

President Mbeki summed it up well when he said: "We rarely speak about change or the absence of change in our minds."


FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mr MB Skosana MP: 082 887 2779
Noleen Hendricks: 082 886 9848