We have spent 60 years arguing about Nkrumah instead of building – Sir Sam Jonah
The Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Sir Sam Jonah, has criticised Ghana’s prolonged focus on debates surrounding the legacy of its first President, Kwame Nkrumah, arguing that the country should instead devote more attention to the nation-building agenda that defined his administration.
Sir Sam Jonah said Nkrumah’s legacy should not be viewed solely through political debates about his presidency, but also through the physical infrastructure and institutions established under his leadership.
Speaking at the opening of the 15th Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Lectures at UCC on Thursday, September 17, 2026, he said Ghana’s post-independence discussions had placed too much emphasis on arguments about Nkrumah while neglecting the practical task of developing the country.
He cited projects such as the Akosombo Dam, Tema, the Accra-Tema Motorway, Ghana Education Trust schools and universities as examples of the development initiatives undertaken during Nkrumah’s tenure.
“Whatever else is said of him, he understood that independence without industry is a flag without a factory,” Sir Sam Jonah said, adding that subsequent generations had often been satisfied with political independence without giving equal attention to economic development.
He argued that Ghana had spent decades debating Nkrumah’s record instead of drawing lessons from his emphasis on building infrastructure and institutions.
“We have spent sixty years arguing about Nkrumah and rather less time doing what he actually did, which was to build things,” he said.
Sir Sam Jonah made the comments while reflecting on the development component of this year’s memorial lectures, which are being held under the theme, “Kwame Nkrumah, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Perspectives on Constitutionalism, Development and Pan-Africanism.”
He said Nkrumah’s approach to development offered important lessons for present-day Ghana, particularly the need to transform national aspirations into concrete projects and institutions that improve the lives of citizens.
The UCC Chancellor also highlighted the role of universities and other intellectual institutions in national development. He argued that such institutions should go beyond producing knowledge and contribute to turning ideas into practical action.
“A university is the one place in any country where silence is not an option – where knowing is supposed to become saying, and saying is supposed to become doing,” he said.
Sir Sam Jonah said Ghana’s development challenges should encourage a more practical examination of Nkrumah’s legacy, rather than continued concentration on political arguments surrounding his time in office.
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