The history of the construction of Akosombo Dam was not known to many
young Ghanaians especially the untold story about the difficulties the
construction company, Kaiser Industries Corporation for Valco and
government of Ghana led by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah went through to
make sure the project succeed.
According to an eye witness who
was a student and the grand servant of Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, Sheikh
Mohammed Salis Shaban explained that Sheikh Ibrahim Niass was on a state
visit to Ghana on an invitation by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to provide a
intervention in the stampede of the construction of the dam believed to
be in control by evil forces inhabiting the place.
According to
Sheikh Salis Shaban who was also the intermediary, the messenger and the
translator between Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, Dr.
Nkrumah commissioned the preliminary work to begin the construction of
dam on the 22nd January, 1962 and the first parliament of Ghana approved
the master agreement between Ghana and Valco.
He
was speaking at the maiden Sheikh Ibrahim Niass Memorial lectures in
Accra last week to mark the annual "Maulid" birthday commemoration under
the theme "Sheikh Ibrahim Niass; the untold story about the
construction of Akosombo Dam"
He said the construction of the dam
claimed many lives of people working with the construction company,
destroying properties belonging to the company and the government
running out of resources.
He indicated that after the day's work was over, the following
morning when workers report to work and to found that work has been
taken back to the very first beginning of the project started.
He
said when Sheikh Ibrahim Niass was taken to the site where the
construction was taken place, according to him (the eye witness) and
what he saw Sheikh Niass did the necessary supplications and ordered the
evil spirit to leave the place and never come back.
The eye
witness said after Sheikh had provided his spiritual prayers he assured
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and the contractors of success. Adding that work
started progress and there was no complain from the contractors after
Sheikh Ibrahim Niass visit to the place.
Meanwhile the personal
physician to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who was present at the memorial lectures
described Sheikh Ibrahim Niass as great man and a very good man.
Dr.
Morton observed Sheikh Niass contribution in the Islamic world as
unflinching and urged all Muslims both men and women to go into research
and follow the path of Sheikh of ensuring peace in the world.
Sheikh
Ibrahim Niass was a leaders and modern renaissance of Islamic
spirituality, Sufism, khalifa of Tijania suffi order and west Africa's
most renowned Islamic scholar of the 20th century.