Nkroful, the birthplace of Ghana's first President Kwame Nkrumah, which has been neglected for far too long, would soon have a new look under the NPP Government. This is because a ¢2 billion Development Fund has been launched by the government to help push forward the town's developmental agenda. According to the Vice-President, Alhaji Aliu Mahama, the NPP Government is determined to make Nkroful the 'Political Mecca of Ghana’ as a sign of honouring Nkrumah for his role in the country’s emancipation and that of the African continent as a whole. At a durbar of chiefs and people of Nzema at Nkroful last Friday where the Western Regional Minister, A E Amoah launched the Fund, the Vice President assured them that facilities in the town, including that of its Agricultural senior secondary school would be upgraded to attract both local and foreign tourists. The Veep, who later inaugurated a five-member board of trustees to man the Fund, reminded the youth of the area that their town, out of many in the Western Region had been honoured because of Nkrumah’s tireless vision for the country. The Statesman learnt that the occasion, dubbed The journey to Nkroful, was the climax of the nation’s fiftieth independence anniversary celebration. Alhaji Aliu Mahama said it was the spirit of self-sacrifice and patriotism that the current leadership would like the youth of Nkroful, including their counterparts in the whole of Nzemaland, to emulate to ensure a better future for the nation. He noted that the NPP Government is also determined to provide even and balanced development throughout the country to enable it achieve the vision of becoming a middle income country by 2015. It was in this vein that he said the northern sector of the Nzema East district has also been earmarked to undergo some face-lifting activities including the construction and tarring of some its roads and connection of the sector to the national grid. The Vice President also spoke of plans by the government to provide potable water to this sector on a regular basis, provision and upgrading of educational infrastructure to make educational institutions in the district comparable to any of the more endowed schools in the country. The Member of Parliament for Elembelle, who is also First Deputy Speaker of Parliament, Freddy Blay, said the present generation which shares Nkrumah’s glory, are inspired by his sacrifices and hard work for the nation, considering the fact that this illustrious son of Nzemaland came from a very humble background. Mr Blay, who paid tribute to other illustrious sons of the land like R S Blay and George Grant for their pivotal roles in the struggle for the emancipation of Ghana and the Black race, said Nzemaland deserves better social amenities. The head of Kwae Nkrumah’s family at Nkroful, Adwobia Kpanyinli called on Government to reconstruct their family house which was demolished by soldiers after the overthrow of the CPP government in 1966. Adwobia Kpanyinli also appealed to Government to hand over to the family its royal palace at Nsuem in the Wassa West district which has been converted into a police station. He also called for part of proceeds from the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra to be used in rehabilitating his mother, Madam Nyaniba’s dilapidated house at Nkroful. Source: The Statesman