The Untold Legacies of Kwame Nkrumah
Dr Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was born on 21st September, 1909 in Nkroful, Ghana formally Gold Coast. He was named Francis Nua Kofi Nkrumah but later he changed it to Kwame Nkrumah in 1945 the reason being that he wanted to be known as a pure African without the white man's name.
He became the Secretary General of United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 through the suggestion of Arko Adjei. Later on 12th June, 1949,he formed his own political party called Convention People's Party (CPP) still in existence.
On 5th March 1957, Kwame Nkrumah stood before thousands of supporters to declare independence of Gold Coast( now Ghana).
Credit :Wikipedia
He and his leaders were clad in Northern smock in that special day purposely to uplift the dignity of the northerners which the colonial masters failed to do and also to unite the entire nation as one people according to Historian and Lawyer Anokye Frimpong.
Later on after becoming the President of Ghana, introduced free education in the Northern part of of Ghana
Read also:
ArkoAdjei https://bricyboateng.blogspot.com/2020/09/did-you-know-ako-adjei-was-first.html
As a monument of a new nation, he opened Black Stars Square in Accra.
The Sad Story
On 12th February, 1966, Ghana suffered it's first Coup d'etat when the government of Kwame Nkrumah was overthrown by some soldiers led by Colonel Emmanuel K. Kotoka (named after Ghana's biggest international Airport)
On that day, President Nkrumah had traveled to Vietnam. He never returned to Ghana but moved to Guinea where he was made a co- president by the president of Guinea - Sekou Toure his friend.
He died in Bucharest, Romania on 27th April, 1972(aged 63) and is buried at the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum in Accra.
The Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum
Grave of Kwame Nkrumah in the mausoleum The Legacies of Kwame Nkrumah according to Anokye Frimpong (Lawyer and historian)
* Fought for the independence of Gold Coast (Ghana) for that of other African countries.
* He was the only African leader/president with no corruption charges. His only source of income was from his salary as a president.
* He made sure everything imported into the country was locally manufactured in Gold Coast as a result built several factories scattered across the four walls of the country but unfortunately left to rot after his overthrow.
* He never seen himself as an Nzema( from Akan tribe) but wanted to be known as an African hence wanted Gold Coasters to themselves as one people not divided by tribe or language.
Today 21st September, 2020,the entire nation celebrate Dr Kwame Nkrumah for his selfless and visionary leadership. An asset to Ghana and Africa.
Happy Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day.
OsagyefoÉ” Ayekoo!
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