https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-is-not-truly-independent-prof-yankah/-------https://www.myjoyonline.com/ghana-is-not-truly-independent-prof-yankah/
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Ghana is not truly independent – Prof Yankah

The date, March 6, 1957, has been significant in the country's history. It was the day revolutionaries led by Dr Kwame Nkrumah declared the country free from the clutches of its colonisers.

“Ghana, our beloved country is free forever,” the first President announced on that fateful Wednesday.

But 65 years later, a Pan Africanist does not believe that the country has fully liberated itself as it claims to be.

Professor Kojo Yankah says Ghana’s effort to be self-reliant over the past six decades of self-governance has been minuscule.

According to him, the lack of industrialisation has stunted the growth of the country’s economy.

“The structure of our economy has been designed in such a way that we are always producing. We have not added value to the products, same structure since independent.

“So how can we be independent?” he quizzed.

Among others, the Founding President of African University College of Communications (AUCC) noted that the Ghanaian mentality is not authentically African.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Upfront, Prof Yankah cited the quote of Dr Nkrumah that Ghanaians must re-interpret their history and culture in order to withdraw from the ideals of the colonisers.

He, however, observed that relevant academic books and theories being used in the education sector are mostly written by foreigners.

The Professor’s hope to see Ghana independent waned on the back of this.

“Without those kinds of connections, I can’t see us as independent. Independent is only a name we have to do more.

“We are still attached to colonialism. Our thoughts, our minds and everything is attached to colonialism so until conscious steps like these are taken we can’t overcome it,” he stressed.

For Ghana to forge forward, Prof Yankah suggested that the ideals of Dr Nkrumah should be prioritised.

He noted that “Kwame Nkrumah had a set of ideas," and when abided by the country would move to greater heights.

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DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.