As Ghanaians mark the return of Founder’s Day to commemorate the birthday of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, a private legal practitioner, Victoria Bright, has stated that Nkrumah’s vision of true independence and self-reliance remains an “uncompleted dream.”
Speaking on the JoyNews AM Show, Ms Bright argued that Ghana has only taken “baby steps” towards achieving the full promise of Nkrumah’s legacy.
She emphasised that while Dr. Nkrumah “undoubtedly laid the foundation of our independence”, the subsequent generations have a duty to complete the building.
“I see it as an uncompleted house. It’s up to us to build the house, complete it, furnish it, etc, etc, and we are forever in the process of building this house,” she said.
Ms Bright’s comments come amid a national conversation about Ghana’s development trajectory since gaining independence on March 6, 1957.
Ghana, the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to break free from colonial rule, has been a beacon of hope for the continent.
However, the nation continues to grapple with economic challenges, including a national debt that reached GH₵658.6 billion in 2024 and a persistent trade deficit.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projects Ghana’s economic growth to be around 2.8% in 2025, a figure that some analysts see as a struggle to keep pace with the nation’s potential.
According to Bright, Nkrumah was a “bold, visionary, inspirational leader” who embodied the spirit of nationalism and Africanism. His foreign policy placed Ghana at the forefront of the decolonization movement across Africa, causing the nation to “punch far above its weight.”
Ms Bright argued that Ghana should be “leaping” forward by now, but is failing to do so. She stated, “development doesn’t happen overnight, but the steps we are taking are just baby steps; we should be leaping now. We should be leaping, and we are not doing so.”
Her words serve as a reminder that every Founder’s Day should not just be a celebration of past achievements, but also a sober reflection on the work that remains.