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Ghana moves to preserve Nkrumah’s legacy as forgotten historic sites face decay
A deserted house overlooking the Gambaga Escarpment in northern Ghana once served as a strategic rest stop for Kwame Nkrumah during the country’s struggle for independence.
From the elevated site in what is now the North East Region, Ghana’s first president could survey vast stretches of the surrounding terrain, a position that offered both security and advantage at a time of political uncertainty.
The structure now stands in disrepair; its walls cracked and roof partially collapsed, and its history largely absent from public record. Yet the remote outpost remains one of the few surviving physical traces of Nkrumah’s movements within Ghana before his overthrow in 1966 and subsequent exile, offering a little-known glimpse into the domestic geography of a leader more often remembered through speeches, monuments, and international diplomacy.
It is against this backdrop that a major decision by the government of Ghana, announced last week, takes on deeper meaning.
On the instructions of President John Dramani Mahama, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has initiated negotiations with the family of Guinea’s first president, Ahmed Sékou Touré, to allow Ghana take possession of the house where Dr Nkrumah lived and worked as Co-President of Guinea in his final years.
The announcement, conveyed by Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, followed a high-level visit led by Vice President Prof. Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang to Conakry.
The aim, according to the ministry, was to renovate and preserve the residence not only as a mark of respect, but as a way of allowing visitors to trace Nkrumah’s extraordinary life from Ghana to Guinea, from leadership to exile, from power to Pan-African persistence.
It is a landmark decision, and a commendable one.
According to history, in Guinea, Nkrumah found more than refuge after the 1966 coup that overthrew his government. President Sékou Touré welcomed him as a brother, granting him the rare title of Co-President. Though physically removed from Ghana, Nkrumah continued to write, organise, and advocate for African unity until his death in 1972.
Preserving that home
One of the deserted buildings preserves a vital chapter of Africa’s political history—one that reminds the world that ideas do not end in exile.
Yet as Ghana looks outward to reclaim this chapter of its past, it is worth pausing to look inward.
Long before Conakry, there was Nakpanduri.
Situated along the Gambaga Scarp, the Nakpanduri rest house was deliberately positioned on high ground, away from major settlements. During the volatile years of the independence struggle and early nationhood, it served as a secure retreat for Nkrumah and his family—a place of protection, reflection, and strategy.
The North’s terrain offered both concealment and command, qualities essential in an era when political survival was far from guaranteed. In this sense, Nakpanduri is not merely a historical footnote; it is evidence of the risks Nkrumah lived with and the lengths to which the independence movement went to safeguard its leader.
Today, however, the site has been reduced to a ruin. Despite its proximity to other natural attractions along the Gambaga Scarp and its potential role in cultural and eco-tourism, it remains neglected, often described in reports as a “white elephant.”
The contrast with the decisive action now being taken in Guinea is striking.
This is not an argument against the preservation of Nkrumah’s residence in exile. On the contrary, the Vice President’s engagement with the Sékou Touré family, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ commitment to transparency and expert-led conservation, signal a welcome seriousness about heritage preservation.
If Ghana is prepared to restore and preserve Nkrumah’s home beyond its borders, then the historic places that sheltered him within Ghana deserve no less attention. Sites like Nakpanduri are integral to the national story, particularly in regions whose contributions to independence are too often overlooked.
Preserving these spaces would do more than honour memory. It would expand heritage tourism beyond traditional centres, bring economic opportunity to underserved areas, and offer future generations a fuller understanding of how Ghana was built not only in conference halls and capitals, but in remote sanctuaries and quiet strongholds.
Taken together, Nkrumah’s resting places in Ghana and his residence in Guinea form a continuous geographic narrative of African leadership. From the hilltops of the North East Region to the seashore of Conakry, his life unfolded across borders, shaped by both danger and solidarity.
The government’s initiative in Guinea opens the door to a broader vision—a coherent Nkrumah heritage trail that allows citizens and visitors alike to follow the arc of a man whose ideas helped shape a continent.
As a Ghanaian and a photographer, standing among the ruins at Nakpanduri, one cannot escape a simple truth: seeing history here and in other spaces needs documentation and preservation. When those places are allowed to disappear, so too does our connection to the past.
But many of the spaces that protected him, inspired him, and sustained him are still here. They are waiting to be seen.
By Geoffrey Buta
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In a rare display of cross-party collaboration, two Members of Parliament from opposing political traditions have set aside partisan differences to champion a shared cause—empowering women and transforming communities.
On February 14 (Valentine’s Day), the Savelugu Community Centre hosted the official launch of the Yooyili Pag-Dede Foundation, an initiative designed to expand economic opportunities for women, strengthen early childhood education, nurture youth creativity, and improve access to clean water.
Leading the effort was Abdul Aziz Fatahiya, Member of Parliament for Savelugu (New Patriotic Party), who was joined in solidarity by Dorcas Affo-Toffey, Member of Parliament for Jomoro and Deputy Minister for Transport.
The partnership has drawn attention not only for its development focus but also for its symbolism—a bipartisan alliance centered on people-first leadership.
In her address, Fatahiya emphasised that while the people of Savelugu were hardworking and resilient, many women and young people lack structured opportunities to maximise their potential.
“Our women are determined, but determination alone is not enough. We must build systems that give them access to resources, skills, and markets,” she stated.
She explained that the Yooyili Pag-Dede Foundation will operate through five core programmes, including potable drinking water.
The foundation also seeks to promote financial independence for women and ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities in community development efforts.
Key initiatives include:
- She Grows: supporting women farmers with training and modern agricultural initiatives.
- Style of Dagbon: a hub for women’s fashion entrepreneurship and creative enterprise.
- Story Weavers of Yooyili: empowering children aged six to 15 as storytellers, artists, and cultural ambassadors.
- Dagbon Karizung: strengthening pre-school education across Dagbon communities.
- Clean Water Project: expanding access to safe and potable water.
Delivering the keynote address, Mohammed Amin Adam, the Member of Parliament for Karaga and former Finance Minister, underscored the central role of education in breaking the cycle of poverty.
He urged parents to prioritise investment in their children’s future and commended Madam Fatahiya for the initiative, supporting it with a donation of GH¢20,000.
Madam Affo-Toffey praised the project, describing it as a commendable initiative worthy of emulation, particularly by female MPs across the country. With an initial GH¢20,000 donation, she noted that the initiative had inspired her to explore similar development models within her own constituency.
Prior to launching the foundation, Madam Fatahiya organised a free breast cancer and chronic disease screening programme that benefited more than 3,000 women across Savelugu.
She described the foundation as an extension of that commitment, aimed at addressing systemic barriers to women’s advancement through practical and sustainable solutions.
In a lighthearted moment that drew laughter and applause, Madam Fatahiya referred to herself and her colleague as “the Gen Z MPs.”
“WE may belong to different political parties, but today we are the Gen Z MPs that collaborate, innovate, and we don’t wait,” she remarked.
She added that a new generation of women political leaders are willing to bridge divides in pursuit of measurable impact.
Also present at the launch was Habib Iddrisu, Member of Parliament for Tolon, who noted that the initiative signals a shift toward issue-based governance to one that prioritises development outcomes.
The event attracted several dignitaries from both political parties, including the Northern Regional Chairman of the NPP, as well as former MCEs and DCEs.
In an era frequently characterised by political polarisation, the bipartisan cooperation witnessed in Savelugu offers a compelling alternative narrative, when leaders unite around shared values and community needs, transformation becomes possible.
From: Geoffrey Buta, Savelugu
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THE Akatsi South Municipality recorded 314 teenage pregnancies in 2025, exceeding the national target despite intensified efforts by health officials to curb the situation.
“Sad as it may be, six girls aged 10–14 years were pregnant, and 269 teenagers delivered, of which five were between 10–14 years, all making up 12.1 per cent against the national target of reducing below 11.5 per cent,” Miss Justine Sefakor Alornyo, Municipal Director of Health Services, disclosed during the 2025 health performance review at the Akatsi South Municipal Assembly Hall.
Under Antenatal Care (ANC), 2,594 pregnant women were registered in 2025, representing 65.9 per cent coverage, up from 2,278 in 2024 with 58.4 per cent coverage.
The Municipality recorded 2,071 supervised deliveries in 2025, a slight increase from 1,997 in 2024. All 2,071 newborns received BCG, Penta, and Measles-Rubella vaccines.
Miss Alornyo attributed the gains to continuous education and advocacy across the Municipality.
On HIV, 151 cases were identified—108 females and 43 males. All are on treatment, including 15 pregnant women who tested positive. Eighteen exposed babies have been placed on prophylaxis.
She added that 60 tuberculosis cases were managed, while investigations into six suspected measles cases, two yellow fever cases, and one Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) case all tested negative.
Highlighting achievements, Miss Alornyo thanked stakeholders, especially the Municipal Assembly, for supporting service delivery. In 2025, the construction of CHPS compounds at Zuta, Ahlepedo, and Asafotsi, as well as the renovation of the Wute Health Centre, is ongoing.
Midwives were posted to Wuxor, Gui, Dzogadze, Akuave, and Livega CHPS facilities, while Dzogadze and Gui CHPS were officially handed over for service delivery.
The annual review assessed progress, achievements, gaps, and innovative strategies to address health challenges.
Akatsi South Municipality is served by 40 health facilities: two hospitals (one private and one municipal), six health centres, 27 CHPS compounds, one CHAG facility, and four clinics.
Infrastructure deficits and transportation challenges remain key concerns.
—GNA
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