As always, I begin with a Big Thank You to my paid subscribers. I am immensely grateful for your not only reading my articles but also for offering me your financial support!
As we say in Yoruba: Mó dúpẹ̀
[Introduction: In the article The Plane Truth, I wrote about the feeling of ambivalence towards reaching into my archives for pieces of old stuff I use for this blog.]
A few readers have asked what is it that keeps writers like myself going when we don’t appear to be well-requited or see much change in the conditions in the motherland which continue to agitate us.
Writing is indeed a labor of love, but being appreciated by readers is also good pay. I do appreciate it greatly when readers reach out to salute, to criticize, to offer advice, and to ask questions.
A reader of this blog recently asked me if any of my articles have ever resulted in a positive change.
I mentioned to him my experience at the Kwame Nkrumah Museum in Accra which left me distressed after a visit in 2012. The condition in which I saw the official car of the first president of Ghana left me heartbroken. I wrote and published an article on it. I did not visit again until two years later and, lo and behold, a magic had happened. The limousine has been housed in a nice garage.
I publish the two pieces hereunder.
I dedicate this piece to my reader who took his time to ask me questions.
Nkrumah’s Car
A recent visit to the Nkrumah’s Mausoleum (NM) in Accra brought tears to my eyes. The woebegone look of the place is enough to dishearten any patriotic African. Many of the landmark trees planted by world figures are lean, shriveled, and dying. The grass is brown, shaggy, and ill-kept. The walls are badly in need of fresh paint.
Dry, dusty, dirty, and beggarly, the whole place looks like an abandoned project in dire need of care and attention. The NM is simply an eyesore that should embarrass those who are charged with its maintenance.
It is a crying shame that this unkempt national edifice remains at the top of Ghana’s tourist attractions list.
Ok, ok, it is harmattan time in West Africa and everything is dry and dusty, but should it be beyond the competence of those in charge of the mausoleum to dig a borehole and use it to keep the place green, lush, and healthy-looking all year round?
Without a doubt, Nkrumah is the greatest brand name in Ghana. And it shouldn’t be too difficult to get funding to keep his resting place in a very decent condition.
It shouldn’t require a degree in marketing to come up with marketing strategies to make the Nkrumah Mausoleum a viable and very profitable commercial entity. Some of the companies that the Osagyefo set up are still in business, and they could be solicited for funds to help in maintaining his mausoleum. To supplement the stipends from the government and entrance fees, souvenirs could be sold and even a restaurant and bar opened at the place to generate funds for its upkeep.
During my visit to the USA, I saw how Americans deified one of their great presidents, Abraham Lincoln, at the Lincoln Centre (LC), in a hallowed, almost shrine-like edifice – truly a sight to behold.
Thousands of tourists pay good money to visit the LC. The American capital, Washington, is dotted with several monuments that are all well-kept and continue to generate good money for the authorities.
If the wretched ambiance of the NM elicited tears in me, I was truly distressed when I saw the official car used by Ghana’s first president.
For Christ’s sake, anything belonging to Nkrumah should be a treasured national asset. But sadly, the authorities display the car in an open space without any ceremony and absolutely no shelter at all. The old car clearly shows the abandon it has suffered over the years.
The NM is located close to the Atlantic Ocean and we all know that seawater and breeze contain elements that easily wreak havoc on cars. I find it difficult to believe that any sane person would approve of the open display of such an important national treasure.
I hope that the publication of these pictures will spur the authorities to build a befitting garage where this singular national treasure could be displayed, and not left to the vagaries of the elements.
Two years later
Nkrumah’s Car Revisited
It gladdens the heart when it appears that our officials read what we write and decide to do the correct thing about the issues we raised.
On Sunday, the 21st of September 2014, I went to the Kwame Nkrumah mausoleum to join in celebrating the 105th Birthday anniversary of the Osagyefo.
Although saddened by the low turnout, my spirits were lifted when I saw that the official car of the first president was now housed in a befitting glass garage.
The last time I was at the mausoleum, I was taken aback by the shoddy appearance of the place and I felt scandalized when I saw the old First Limousine in a rotten state.
I took pictures and made some waves.
Gladly, it appears that our efforts had some effects as our officials apparently took notice and built the glass garage.
I say kudos to the officials responsible.
The Moral: We, as citizens, should make it our business to see that the correct things are done at all times. That is the only way the country can make progress.
Here is the original article:
A recent visit to the Nkrumah’s Mausoleum (NM) in Accra brought tears to my eyes. The woebegone look of the place is enough to dishearten any patriotic African. Many of the landmark trees planted by world figures are lean, shriveled, and dying. The grass is brown, shaggy, and ill-kept. The walls are badly in need of fresh paint.
Dry, dusty, dirty, and beggarly, the whole place looks like an abandoned project in dire need of care and attention.
The NM is simply an eyesore that should embarrass those who are charged with its maintenance.
It is a crying shame that this unkempt national edifice remains at the top of Ghana’s tourist attractions list.
Ok, ok, it is harmattan time in West Africa and everything is dry and dusty, but should it be beyond the competence of those in charge of the mausoleum to dig a borehole and use it to keep the place green, lush, and healthy-looking all year round?
Without a doubt, Nkrumah is the greatest brand name in Ghana. And it shouldn’t be too difficult to get funding to keep his resting place in a very decent condition.
It shouldn’t require a degree in marketing to come up with marketing strategies to make the Nkrumah Mausoleum a viable and very profitable commercial entity. Some of the companies that the Osagyefo set up are still in business, and they could be solicited for funds to help in maintaining his mausoleum. To supplement the stipends from the government and entrance fees, souvenirs could be sold and even a restaurant and bar opened at the place to generate funds for its upkeep.
During my visit to the USA, I saw how Americans deified one of their great presidents, Abraham Lincoln, at the Lincoln Centre (LC), in a hallowed, almost shrine-like edifice – truly a sight to behold.
Thousands of tourists pay good money to visit the LC. The American capital, Washington, is dotted with several monuments that are all well-kept and continue to generate good money for the authorities.
If the wretched ambiance of the NM elicited tears in me, I was truly distressed when I saw the official car used by Ghana’s first president.
For Christ’s sake, anything belonging to Nkrumah should be a treasured national asset. But sadly, the authorities display the car in an open space without any ceremony and absolutely no shelter at all. The old car clearly shows the abandon it has suffered over the years.
The NM is located close to the Atlantic Ocean and we all know that seawater and breeze contain elements that easily wreak havoc on cars. I find it difficult to believe that any sane person would approve of the open display of such an important national treasure.
I hope that the publication of these pictures will spur the authorities to build a befitting garage where this singular national treasure could be displayed, and not left to the vagaries of the elements.
©️ Fẹ́mi Akọ́mọláfẹ́
Farmer, Writer, Published Author, and Social Commentator
My latest Book, From Stamp to Click (it’s still a hello) is published and is available online at:
https://www.africanbookscollective.com/books/from-sta…
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• Africa: it shall be well (Get a FREE Chapter Here)
• Africa: Destroyed by the gods (Get a FREE Chapter Here)
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