Its freedom triggered a wave of independence movements that transformed Africa from a largely European-ruled continent into a constellation of new, independent and autonomous states.
One can very safely say that on the 6th of March 1957 nobody in the world would have believed that this day would not only go down as an important day in the history of the West African nation, but would be instrumental in igniting the flame of freedom for the whole of Africa.
Ghana blazed the trail that ended colonialism in many of Africa's 54 states over the years. The charismatic nationalist Dr Kwame Nkrumah, through this action, became the guiding light to the call for African unity, a call which reverberates around the continent even today.
It will remain a day that defined African history because it was seen as more than the Independence Day for Ghana. It was seen and proclaimed as the day when the struggle for the total liberation of the whole of the African continent from the bonds of colonialism started in all reality.
Today we can reap what Nkrumah has sown. Ghana's success in casting off the chains of colonialism was to our leaders a clear indication that they were more than just Don Quixotes tilting at illusionary windmills. Nkrumah, the mentor, made us realise that the colonial overlords were not omnipotent or invincible.
Many of our present and past leaders have known "the victorious one" ("Osagyefo" in the Akan language) personally. President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, for instance, met Dr Nkrumah while on a stint as teacher in Ghana.
This "Saturday's child" (Kwame) inspired many of the persons that became the vanguard of the struggle for freedom in many countries. Former President of Namibia Dr Sam Nujoma called him a great inspiration, adding that it was from Ghana that another facet of Namibia's independence struggle was born. The late Samora Machel of Mozambique saw him as one of the prime motivating factors towards liberating the country.
Founding President of Zambia Kenneth Kaunda, and the late Julius Nyerere of Tanzania both shared his vision of a united Africa.
Nkrumah was perhaps best known politically for his strong commitment to and promotion of Pan-Africanism. Having been inspired by the writings and his relationships with black intellectuals like Marcus Garvey, W.E.B. DuBois, and George Padmore, Nkrumah went on to himself inspire and encourage Pan-Africanist positions amongst a number of other African independence leaders and activists from the African Diaspora.
Perhaps Nkrumah's biggest success in this area came from his significant influence in the founding of the Organisation of African Unity.
What can we, as citizens of countries that are free from colonialism today, still learn from this point in history and from the person who made that history?
It is best said ' even 50 years later ' in the voice of the master himself: "It is clear that we must find an African solution to our problems, and that this can only be found in African unity. Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one of the greatest forces for good in the world."
All we now have to do is put these prophetic words into full practice. We have SACU, we have SADC, we have the AU.
Critics of African unity often refer to the wide differences in culture, language and ideas in various parts of Africa. To some extent, that is true, but these differences are not insurmountable. We must put aside the irrelevant and concentrate on the essential: to emerge not as just another world bloc to flaunt its wealth and strength, but as a "Great Power whose greatness is indestructible because it is built not on fear, envy, competition and suspicion, nor won at the expense of others, but founded on hope, trust, friendship and directed to the good of all mankind".
