The former First Lady, Nana Konadu Agyeman-Rawlings, has urged Africans to take charge of their own history and to ensure the lessons and inspirations from such history are inculcated in the youth to guarantee the development of the continent.
Speaking at the launch of a book on Ghana’s former president Jerry John Rawlings on Tuesday, she said “our society is defined by how accurate our history is, as well as the mediums we create to disseminate such history.”
Agyeman-Rawlings, who spoke at the launch of “JJ Rawlings, Memories and Mementos“, a collection of poetry and essays put together in tribute to Rawlings by the Pan-African Writers Association (PAWA), said the former president inspired many on the continent and beyond. She described as heartwarming, the fact that members of PAWA did not hesitate to write down their emotions over the sudden loss of a formidable African personality.
She said: “One of our weaknesses as a continent, is our failure to adequately record the positive achievements of our sons and daughters, often leaving others from outside the continent who may not appreciate and identify with our unique culture and ideals, to write biographies about Africans who have impacted positively on the continent.”
Agyeman-Rawlings, who was accompanied by three of her children, Yaa Asantewaa, Amina and Kimathi Agyeman-Rawlings, said the book launch was a manifestation of the impact Rawlings had on many across the continent. What is written in the book, she noted, is reflective not only of the authors, but of their various societies and communities.
Nana Konadu commended PAWA for their “wonderful” effort and urged them to contribute more to the history of the continent by “recording our story and culture in a candid manner for all to learn from.”
Tribute to Rawlings
The Minister of Defence and MP for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, who represented the President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo at the launch, paid tribute to Rawlings, highlighting his immense contribution in the areas of political stability and competent economic management.
He also recounted education and cultural development as well as the entrenchment of moral values in Ghana by the late president as quite remarkable.
“It is important to note that, many of these landmark achievements were not limited to Ghana but also, to other African countries such as Liberia, Togo, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Malawi, South Africa to name just a few,” he said.
He announced that as part of its effort to improve the standard of education in the country and reduce the endemic problem of a poor reading culture, the government has made adequate provisions in the 2022 Budget towards the Ministry of Education and its various agencies.
He said Ghana’s hosting of PAWA for 30 years represents its strong belief in the power of literature and culture as important tools for African unity.
“Ghana will continue to give its full support to PAWA so that the literary continental body can fulfil its objectives as enshrined in the Association’s constitution,” Nitiwul stated.
Book review
Dr Theresa Addai-Mununkum of the University of Cape Coast, who reviewed the book, said it was a great initiative in keeping alive Africa’s heroes.
“Apart from encouraging up and coming heroes to continue with the struggle to make life better for all Africa, the collection serves as a historical account of the life and times of J J Rawlings for young Ghanaians and other Africans who would otherwise not hear or read about Rawlings and what he did for Ghana, and Africa,” Dr Addai-Mununkum said.
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