The Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Mémounatou Ibrahima, has paid tribute to Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, describing his vision of a free and united Africa as a lasting inspiration for the continent.
Speaking at the opening of the Second Parliamentary Seminar of the year 2026 in Accra on Monday, September 21, the Speaker noted that the seminar coincided with Ghana’s Founder’s Day, which commemorates the birth of Dr Nkrumah.
She said the occasion provided an opportunity for the ECOWAS Parliament to reflect on the legacy of the former Ghanaian leader and his contribution to the struggle for African unity.
“The country celebrates today Founder’s Day, a date that coincides with the birth of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah,” she said.
“Gathered here in Accra, we cannot let this occasion pass without recalling the man whose fight for Ghana’s independence was inseparable from a far greater ambition: that of a free, united Africa, able to take charge of its own destiny.”
The Speaker subsequently invited participants at the seminar to observe a minute of silence in honour of Dr Nkrumah.
The commemoration formed part of the opening proceedings of the parliamentary seminar, which brought together parliamentarians and other stakeholders to deliberate on issues affecting the ECOWAS region.
Mrs Ibrahima said Nkrumah’s legacy remained particularly relevant to the work of regional institutions seeking to advance cooperation and collective action among African countries.
She, however, urged participants to focus on substantive discussions during the seminar, noting that the formal proceedings of the extraordinary session and the parliamentary seminar would continue the following day.
“Tomorrow we will have time for solemnity. Today, let us choose substance, listening and work,” she said.
The Speaker’s remarks came as ECOWAS parliamentarians gathered in Accra for discussions centred on climate disruption and its implications for communities across the region.