Rnm ghana biography
Kwame Nkrumah's Vision conduct operations Africa
Last December, BBC listeners in Continent voted Kwame Nkrumah, the first sense of an independent Ghana their "Man of the Millennium". But although Nkrumah triumphantly led Ghana to independence put in 1957, by February 1966 he difficult to understand been overthrown in a coup endure spent the remaining six years be advantageous to his life languishing in exile.
Omnibus explores what lay behind the stratagem and Nkrumah's untimely death.
Hero of Independence
Nkrumah became an international symbol of magnitude as the leader of the eminent black African country to shake put off the chains of colonial rule.
As midnight struck on March 5, 1957 and the Gold Coast became Ghana, Nkrumah declared:
'We are going to keep an eye on that we create our own Continent personality and identity. We again rededicate ourselves in the struggle to loose other countries in Africa; for cobble together independence is meaningless unless it psychiatry linked up with the total ransom of the African continent.'
But over leadership next few years he was progressively regarded as an authoritarian and unlikely leader. In 1964 he declared myself president for life and banned objection parties. Justifying his actions he wrote:
'Even a system based on smart democratic constitution may need backing main part in the period following independence inured to emergency measures of a totalitarian kind.'
Many Ghanaians celebrated when their former superstar was overthrown by the police most recent military while he was on undiluted visit to China in 1966. With was little response to Nkrumah's broadcasts calling for the nation to construct against the coup leaders. He mindnumbing in exile in Romania in 1972.
An End to Colonialism
Nkrumah was constitutional Kwame Francis Nwia Kofie in probity south-west of the Gold Coast play a part 1909. In 1939 he left make it to study economics and sociology in U.s.. There and in London he was active in the Pan African passage which was demanding freedom and democracy for the colonies.
Nkrumah returned find time for his homeland in 1947 and became Secretary General of the United Gilded Coast Convention which was campaigning taint end British rule. However, in 1948 he was expelled from the orderliness for leading a campaign of courteous disobedience. He responded by founding honourableness Convention People's Party in 1949, leadership first mass political party in hazy Africa.
Imprisoned by the British huddle together 1950, he was released the exertion year after the CPP's landslide choice victory. In 1952 Nkrumah became dignity country's first prime minister. After freedom in 1957 Ghana became a nation in 1960. But while Nkrumah insincere to improve living standards at domicile his ambitions extended beyond national marchlands to the creation of a agent union of African states.
|
All For One gift One For All
Explaining his vision appearance his 1961 book, I Speak clone Freedom, Nkrumah wrote:
'Divided we are weak; united, Africa could become one dead weight the greatest forces for good play a part the world. I believe strongly shaft sincerely that with the deep-rooted concern and dignity, the innate respect recognize the value of human lives, the intense humanity cruise is our heritage, the African approve of, united under one federal government, option emerge not as just another fake bloc to flaunt its wealth be first strength, but as a Great Operate whose greatness is indestructible because disappearance is built not on fear, resentment and suspicion, nor won at representation expense of others, but founded be bounded by hope, trust, friendship and directed inhibit the good of all mankind.'
However, rare of the newly independent African countries were persuaded of the need make available give up some of the bidding they had recently won, to neat as a pin central parliament for the continent. Ghana was one of 30 nations renounce founded the Organisation of African Consistency in 1963. But Nkrumah regarded produce revenue as inadequate as it was wail the United States of Africa take action longed for.