Dr. Kwame Nkrumah also known as “Osagyefo,” the redeemer was the first president of Ghana, a role he held from 1960 until his overthrow in 1966. He is widely acknowledged as the founding father of Ghana, having driven forward a campaign for independence from Great Britain and played a key role in establishing the nation’s political structure.
He championed Pan-Africanism both within his own country and on an international level, speaking out against imperialism and advocating for increased economic and political unity among African nations.
His time as president saw public works projects launched, including schools, hospitals, and roads, while he also developed programs to provide electricity to rural areas. Dr. Nkrumah received numerous honours during his life; these included being awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviet Union.
He was born into a humble home. His father was a Goldsmith while his mother was one of the wives of his father. Nkrumah was the only child of his mother, who was very particular about his education.
Kwame Nkrumah gained inspiration from their writings and advocacy. He also studied the works of Karl Marx, Lenin, and many others in that era. He also met and became friends with Nnamdi Azikiwe, a Nigerian who had arrived in the United States of America as a student years before Nkrumah.
From the interactions with Azikiwe, Nkrumah realized that Azikiwe was also yearning for the grant of Independence to his country, Nigeria. Nkrumah then felt encouraged that the agitation for Independence for the people of the Gold Coast was a worthy and just agitation.
He began to organize African students in America, Canada, and the United Kingdom into associations for the galvanization of intellectual and material resources for the emancipation of the African continent from Colonial rule. This was to be achieved by non-violent means.
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