Independence Day marks the declaration of independence from the United Kingdom by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah on March 6, 1957.
ADVERTISEMENT
Here's the first independence speech delivered by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1957
On this day in 1957, Ghana became the first African country to declare itself free from the clutches of the colonizers.
Dr Kwame Nkrumah on March 6
Recommended articles
Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to achieve independence from the UK.
First President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah delivered the first independence speech on March 6, 1957, to hundreds of participants including representatives from the British monarch.
"We have won the battle and again rededicate ourselves," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
He added: "Our independence is meaningless unless it is linked up with the total liberation of Africa."
Here's the full speech below delivered by Kwame Nkrumah:
At long last, the battle has ended! And thus, Ghana, your beloved country is free forever!
And yet again, I want to take the opportunity to thank the people of this country; the youth, the farmers, the women who have so nobly fought and won the battle.
Also, I want to thank the valiant ex-servicemen who have so cooperated with me in this mighty task of freeing our country from foreign rule and imperialism.
ADVERTISEMENT
And, as I pointed out… from now on, today, we must change our attitudes and our minds. We must realise that from now on we are no longer a colonial but free and independent people.
But also, as I pointed out, that also entails hard work. That new Africa is ready to fight his own battles and show that after all the black man is capable of managing his own affairs.
We are going to demonstrate to the world, to the other nations, that we are prepared to lay our foundation – our African personality.
As I said to the Assembly a few minutes ago, I made a point that we are going to create our own Africa personality and identity. It is the only way we can show the world that we are ready for our battles.
But today, may I call upon you all, that on this great day that let us all remember that nothing can be done unless it has the support of God.
ADVERTISEMENT
We have won the battle and again rededicate ourselves … OUR INDEPENDENCE IS MEANINGLESS UNLESS IT IS LINKED UP WITH THE TOTAL LIBERATION OF AFRICA.
Let us now, fellow Ghanaians, let us now ask for God’s blessing for only two seconds, and in your thousands and millions.
I want to ask you to pause for only one minute and give thanks to Almighty God for having led us through our difficulties, imprisonments, hardships, and sufferings, to have brought us to our end of troubles today. One minute silence.
Ghana is free forever! And here I will ask the band to play the Ghana National Anthem.
Reshaping Ghana’s destiny, I am depending on the millions of the country, and the chiefs and the people, to help me to reshape the destiny of this country. We are prepared to pick it up and make it a nation that will be respected by every nation in the world.
ADVERTISEMENT
We know we're going to have difficult beginnings, but again, I am relying on your support…. I am relying upon your hard work.
Seeing you in this… It doesn’t matter how far my eyes go, I can see that you are here in your millions. And my last warning to you is that you are to stand firm behind us so that we can prove to the world that when the African is given a chance, he can show the world that he is somebody!
We have awakened. We will not sleep anymore. Today, from now one, there is a new African in the world!
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
ADVERTISEMENT
Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:
Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh
Recommended articles
Nana Addo assures he will prioritize the welfare of cocoa farmers
Truck driver arrested for allegedly causing train accident on Tema-Mpakadan railway line
Kia driver who caused accident involving Ghana’s new train reports himself to Police
No passenger injured in accident involving Ghana’s newly imported train – Railways Minister
NAGRAT gives govt one-week deadline to address unpaid pensions affecting 700,000 workers
Inside story of how Ghana’s new train got involved in accident on a test run
3 years after he was declared dead, German-American billionaire found in Russia
She sent naked photos to Dubai lover while I battled kidney disease - Erico speaks on divorce
