Nkrumah, widow of Kwame Nkrumah
2 June 2007
President Thabo Mbeki today, Saturday, 2 June 2007, conveyed the heartfelt
condolences of the government and people of South Africa to President of Ghana
John Kufour on the death of Fathiya Nkrumah, widow of Kwame Nkrumah, who passed
away on Thursday, 31 May 2007.
"The death of Fathiya Nkrumah must surely remind the people of our country
and indeed those of the rest of our continent of the indomitable spirit of that
generation of African leaders that led the struggle to rid Africa of the
scourge of colonialism and the system of apartheid."
"It is ironic that Fathiya Nkrumah passed away during the year when Africa
and most certainly the rest of the world celebrate the 50th anniversary of
Ghana's independence which was led by that shining African star, the late Kwame
Nkrumah."
"It is indeed instructive to note that her death also coincides with current
debates within the African Union (AU) aimed at the political and economic
integration of the continent of Africa, an idea championed during the launch of
the Organistaion of African Unity (OAU) by among others, her late husband Kwame
Krumah."
"Fathiya Nkrumah must certainly have worried as do the rest of us about the
poverty and under development that continue to afflict millions of our people
in the continent of Africa."
"Yet Fathiya Nkrumah died in the full knowledge that Africans are now the
authors of their own destiny through the African Renaissance to build a
continent characterised by peace, harmony and prosperity and thereby ensure it
takes its rightful place among nations of the world as an equal partner."
"Accordingly and as we lay the mortal remains of Fathiya Nkrumah to rest,
the government and people of South Africa joins the rest of the peoples of our
continent in extending our sincere condolences to her three children, the
government and people of Ghana," concluded President Mbeki.
Contact:
Ronnie Mamoepa
Cell: 082 990 4853
Issued by: Department of Foreign Affairs
2 June 2007
