Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
The first prime minister and president of Ghana after having led the country to attain independence from Britain in 1957. The Pan-Africanist and founding member of the Organisation of African Unity returned to the then Gold Coast to begin his political career after having pursued higher education abroad for 12 years. He formed the Convention People’s Party which won the admiration of many voters. In 1952, Nkrumah became prime minister. In 1960, Ghanaians approved a new constitution and elected Nkrumah president after the country gained independence from the British on March 6, 1957. He was, however, overthrown in a violent coup d’état led by the National Liberation Council. Even though critics say that his government was a failure and hence his overthrown was justified, there is no denying the fact that he chalked many achievements for his people and across Africa, including his developmental projects and foreign policies, particularly his contribution to the formation of the OAU and the Pan-Africa movement in general. He taking Ghana out of British colonial domination and making it the first country in Sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence is by far one of his greatest achievement. Born in September 1909, Nkrumah’s works with other political leaders in the fight against colonialism makes him a powerful voice for African nationalism.
