Nkrumah vs Akufo-Addo: The visible records

NAPO, at his unveiling as the running mate of NPP Flagbearer, Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, said: “I am saying that from 1957 to now, whether you pick ‘your’ Kwame Nkrumah… there is nobody who has led Ghana and protected the country or developed Ghana more than Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.”

But, is NAPO being rightly criticised, or does he have a valid point?

Here is a brief breakdown of some of the major development projects by Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.

Major hospitals established:

Nkrumah – 4

Kwame Nkrumah built the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital. He also expanded the 37 Military Hospital and opened it to the public.

He expanded and upgraded Korle-Bu to a Teaching Hospital status. These exclude clinics and other health facilities started by Nkrumah.

Akufo-Addo – 0

Although no major hospital has been established by the Akufo-Addo government, a lot of existing health facilities have seen expansions under him.

Also, the government’s Agenda 111 Project, which is to construct over 100 health facilities, including 7 regional hospitals and psychiatric hospitals, is on course.

Universities/Tertiary Education Institutions Established:

Nkrumah – 6

Kwame Nkrumah founded the University of Cape Coast, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, the University of Ghana, the Kwame Nkrumah Institute of Economics and Political Science (now the South campus of the University of Education, Winneba), Kumasi Technical Institute (now a University), Accra Polytechnic, now Accra Technical University, and the Ghana Medical School.

In addition, he set up 16 teacher training colleges in the country, including the Atebubu Training College, Berekum Training College, Fosu Training College, the Enchi Training College, the Kwadaso College of Education, the School of Languages in Ajumako, and the Ghana National College in Cape Coast.

Akufo-Addo – 0

Even though President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo commissioned the University of Environment and Sustainable Development (UESD) in 2020, the University was established by the John Dramani Mahama government in 2015.

In addition to this, the president has also turned 2 campuses of the University of Development Studies into autonomous universities; the University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, and the University of Technology and Applied Science.

Contribution to Ghana’s Electricity Production:

Kwame Nkrumah established the Akosombo Dam, which to date provides Ghana with almost a quarter of its electricity needs – 1020 MW.

He also initiated the establishment of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission in 1963 and initiated the plans for the Ghana Nuclear Reactor Project (GNRP) in November 1964.

Akufo-Addo – 2

President Akufo-Addo has also contributed to Ghana’s energy generation capacity, but his contribution is way lower than that of Kwame Nkrumah. His contribution includes the 15 MW Kaleo Power Plant and the 55 MW Bui Solar.

State-Owned Factories Established:

Nkrumah – Over 10

Ghana’s first president established a host of state-owned manufacturing companies, including Abosso Glass Factory, Akosombo Textiles Limited, Asutuare Sugar Factory and Buokrom Estate, Bolgatanga Meat Processing Factory, Bolgatanga Rice Mill Factory, Kade Match Factory, Kumasi Jute Factory, Kumasi Shoe Factory, GIHOC Pharmaceuticals.

Akufo-Addo – 0

Even though there is no record of state-owned factories established under the Akufo-Addo government, the government, under the One District, One Factory initiative, has provided private entities with the necessary incentives to establish more than 100 companies.

Social Intervention Policies:

Akufo-Addo – 2

The major social intervention policy implemented by President Akufo-Addo is the Free Senior High School (Free SHS) to provide free secondary education to every eligible Ghanaian.

Under the programme, the government bears all the costs of secondary education, including the tuition fees, boarding facilities, and educational material, among others.

Akufo-Addo also established the Zongo Development Fund to address the needs of Zongo and inner-city communities; and under their auspices,

Nkrumah – 3

Kwame Nkrumah established the Ghana Education Trust to set up other secondary schools across the country with the aim of increasing access to secondary education in remote and poor regions such as the Northern, Upper West, and Upper East areas.

Some secondary schools that were opened under the Trust include Mfantsiman Secondary School, Ofori Panyin Secondary School, Techiman Secondary School, Apam Secondary School, Swedru Secondary School, Dormaa Secondary School, Tema Secondary School, Oda Secondary School, and the Labone Secondary School.

Also, he established a free basic education programme in 1961 for primary and middle schools to ensure that every child of school-going age had access to quality education. Not only did Dr. Nkrumah provide free education, but he also supplied free textbooks to schoolchildren in 1963.

He also established the Cocoa Marketing Board Scholarship which provided children of cocoa farmers across the country with scholarships.

Nkrumah also established the Northern Scholarship Scheme to provide free secondary education to students of northern extraction. This was aimed at bridging the gap between the northern and southern parts of the country in terms of education.

Other Notable Projects:

Nkrumah:

Bank of Ghana, Ghana Commercial Bank (now GCB PLC), National Investment Bank (NIB), Ghana Black Star Line, Meridian Hotel, City Hotel Catering Rest Houses, Patasi Estate, Meridian Hotel, Tema Township, and Tema Motorway.

Akufo-Addo:

Appiatse Community Redevelopment; Mobile Money Interoperability; introduction of drones for delivery of critical medical supplies.

It is also instructive to note that Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was president of Ghana for 5 years, 240 days while Akufo-Addo is in his 8th year.