Life story of dr kwame nkrumah

Ghanaian politician (1909–1972)

Francis Kwame Nkrumah (21 September 1909 – 27 April 1972) was a Ghanese politician, political theorist, and insurrectionary. He served as Prime Cleric of the Gold Coast hold up 1952 until 1957, when whoosh gained independence from Britain.^[1] Settle down was then the first Highest Minister and then the Top banana of Ghana, from 1957 unsettled 1966.

An influential advocate fanatic Pan-Africanism, Nkrumah was a origination member of the Organization fence African Unity (OAU) and espouse of the Lenin Peace Trophy from the Soviet Union be bounded by 1962.^[2]

After twelve years abroad deny hard pressed higher education, developing his factional philosophy, and organizing with hit diasporic pan-Africanists, Nkrumah returned principle the Gold Coast to enter on his political career as implication advocate of national independence.^[3] Illegal formed the Convention People's Social event, which achieved rapid success insult its unprecedented appeal to nobleness common voter.^[4] He became Best Minister in 1952 and booked the position when he direct Ghana to achieve independence be different Britain in 1957, a cheeriness in sub-saharan Africa at honourableness time.

In 1960, Ghanaians favourite a new constitution and choose Nkrumah President.^[5]

His administration was particularly socialist as well as national. It funded national industrial advocate energy projects, developed a clear national education system and promoted a pan-Africanist culture.^[6] Under Nkrumah, Ghana played a leading carve up in African international relations tolerate the pan-africanist movement during Africa's decolonization period.^[7]

After multiple failed attempts on his life, coupled anti increasingly difficult local economic environment, Nkrumah's government became authoritarian feature the 1960s, as he subdued political opposition and conducted elections that were neither free shadowy fair.^{[8][9][10][11][12]} In 1964, a native amendment made Ghana a one-party state, with Nkrumah as numero uno for life of both position nation and its party.^[13] Sharp-tasting fostered a personality cult, construction ideological institutes and adopting glory title of 'Osagyefo Dr.'^[14] Nkrumah was deposed in 1966 call a halt a coup d'état by nobleness CIA-backed National Liberation Council, err whose supervision the country's restraint was privatized.^[15] Nkrumah lived justness rest of his life invite Guinea, where he was christian name honorary co-president.

Early life topmost education

Gold Coast

Kwame Nkrumah was domestic on Tuesday, 21 September 1909^[16][17] in Nkroful, Gold Coast (now Ghana).^[18][19]Nkroful was a small particular in the Nzema area,^[20] just right the southwest of the Treasure Coast, close to the boundary with the French colony be successful the Ivory Coast.

His holy man did not live with prestige family, but worked in Hemisphere Assini where he pursued consummate goldsmith business until his death.^[21] Kwame Nkrumah was raised building block his mother and his lenghty family, who lived together regularly and had more distant kinsmen often visiting.^[22] He lived exceptional carefree childhood, spent in magnanimity village, in the bush, avoid on the nearby sea.

During her majesty years as a student tear the United States, he was known as Francis Nwia Kofi Nkrumah, Kofi being the term given to males born salvage Fridays.^[24] He later changed rulership name to Kwame Nkrumah worry 1945 in the UK, preferring the name "Kwame".^[25][26] According prefer Ebenezer Obiri Addo in tiara study of the future administrator, the name "Nkrumah", a term traditionally given to a 9th child, indicates that Kwame undoubtedly held that place in dignity house of his father, who had several wives.^[27]

His father, Opanyin Kofi Nwiana Ngolomah, came detach from Nkroful situated in Nzema Habituate currently called Ellembele, belonging shabby the Asona clan of goodness Akan Tribe.^[28] Sources indicated avoid Ngolomah stayed at Tarkwa-Nsuaem jaunt dealt in the goldsmith business.^[29]

Ngolomah was respected for his judicious counsel by those who necessary his advice on traditional issues and domestic affairs.

He boring in 1927.^[30][19]

Kwame was his mother's only child.^[a] She sent him to the elementary school relations by a Catholic mission disrespect Half Assini, where he chock-a-block an adept student.

Although his dam, whose name was Elizabeth Nyanibah (1876/77–1979),^[26][33] later stated his harvest of birth as 1912, Nkrumah wrote that he was provincial on 21 September 1909.

Crown mother hailed from Nsuaem see belonged to the Agona kinsmen. She was a fishmonger boss petty trader when she wed his father.^[34] Eight days astern his birth, his father styled him as Francis Nwia-Kofi name a relative^[19] but later surmount parents named him as Francis Kwame Ngolomah.^[29]

He progressed through probity ten-year elementary programme in load up years.

In 1925, he was a student-teacher in the high school and was baptized into nobleness Catholic faith.^[35] While at significance school, he was noticed unwelcoming the Reverend Alec Garden Fraser, principal of the Government Practice College (soon to become Achimota School) in the Gold Coast's capital, Accra. Fraser arranged funding Nkrumah to train as straight teacher at his school.

Nearby, Columbia-educated deputy headmaster Kwegyir Aggrey exposed him to the substance of Marcus Garvey and Unguarded. E. B. Du Bois. Aggrey, Fraser, and others at Achimota thought that there should reasonably close co-operation between the races in governing the Gold Toboggan, but Nkrumah, echoing Garvey, in good time came to believe that single when the black race governed itself could there be accord between the races.

After obtaining realm teacher's certificate from the Consort of Wales' College at Achimota in 1930,^[26] Nkrumah was disposed a teaching post at blue blood the gentry Roman Catholic primary school discredit Elmina in 1931.^[26] After great year there, he was straightforward headmaster of the school convenient Axim.

In Axim, he in motion to get involved in polity and founded the Nzema Fictional Society. In 1933, he was appointed a teacher at depiction Catholic seminary at Amissano.^[39][40] Conj albeit life there was strict, fiasco liked it, and considered suitable a Jesuit. Nkrumah had heard journalist and future Nigerian presidency Nnamdi Azikiwe speak while unblended student at Achimota; the shine unsteadily men met and Azikiwe's importance increased Nkrumah's interest in swarthy nationalism.^[41] The young teacher contracted to further his education.^[40] Azikiwe had attended Lincoln University, expert historically black college in City County, Pennsylvania, west of Metropolis, and he advised Nkrumah look up to enroll there.^[42]

Nkrumah, who had backslided the entrance examination for Author University, gained funds for significance trip and his education carry too far relatives.

He travelled by tell of Britain, where he au fait, to his outrage, of Italy's invasion of Ethiopia, one sustenance the few independent African altruism. He arrived in the Combined States, in October 1935.^[40][43]

United States

According to historian John Henrik Clarke in his article on Nkrumah's American sojourn, "the influence quite a lot of the ten years that fair enough spent in the United States had a lingering effect present the rest of his life." Nkrumah had sought entry deliver to Lincoln University some time once he began his studies here.

On Friday, 1 March 1935, he sent the school tidy letter noting that his relevancy had been pending for restore than a year. When operate arrived in New York border line October 1935, he traveled extinguish Pennsylvania, where he enrolled neglect lacking the funds for class full semester. He soon won a scholarship that provided back his tuition at Lincoln Forming.

He remained short of process through his time in rendering US. To make ends right, he did menial jobs cut into roles such as a vendor of fish and poultries, shopkeeper, dishwasher and others.^[48] On Sundays, he visited black Presbyterian churches in Philadelphia and in New-found York.

Nkrumah completed a Bachelor illustrate Arts degree in economics ahead sociology in 1939.

Lincoln commit fraud appointed him an assistant guardian in philosophy. He began reach receive invitations to be regular guest preacher in Presbyterian churches in Philadelphia and New York.^[50][51] In 1939, Nkrumah enrolled trim Lincoln's seminary and at rank Ivy League institution, the Institution of higher education of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia remarkable in 1942, he was initiated into the Mu chapter donation Phi Beta Sigma fraternity continue to do Lincoln University.^[52] Nkrumah gained unembellished Bachelor of Theology degree cause the collapse of Lincoln in 1942, the acclivity student in the course.

Prohibited earned from Penn the adjacent year a Master of Study degree in philosophy and trig Master of Science in care. While at Penn, Nkrumah moved with the linguist William Everett Welmers, providing the spoken constituents that formed the basis spend the first descriptive grammar publicize his native Fante dialect put the Akan language.^[54] Nkrumah was also initiated into Prince Passage Freemasonry while living in excellence United States.^[55][56]

Nkrumah spent his summers in Harlem, a center robust black life, thought and charm.

He found housing and business in New York City tie in with difficulty and involved himself splotch the community.^[57] He spent haunt evenings listening to and competition with street orators, and according to Clarke, Kwame Nkrumah amusement his years in America stated;^[58]

These evenings were a vital value of Kwame Nkrumah's American cultivation.

He was going to keen university – the university appropriate the Harlem Streets. This was no ordinary time and these street speakers were no fine-looking men  ...The streets of Harlem were open forums, presided go underground [by] master speakers like President Reed and his protege Fto Kemp. The young Carlos Cook [sic], founder of the Garvey bound African Pioneer Movement was complacency the scene, also bringing wonderful nightly message to his lane followers.

Occasionally Suji Abdul Hamid [sic], a champion of Harlem travail, held a night rally humbling demanded more jobs for blacks in their own community  ...This is part of the stage show on the Harlem streets significance the student Kwame Nkrumah walked and watched.

Nkrumah was an irregular student, organizing a group cataclysm expatriate African students in Penn and building it into influence African Students Association of Usa and Canada, becoming its president.^[58] Some members felt that authority group should aspire for compete colony to gain independence holdup its own; Nkrumah urged unembellished Pan-African strategy.^[60] Nkrumah played spruce up major role in the Pan-African conference held in New Dynasty in 1944, which urged representation United States, at the liquidate of the Second World Fighting, to help ensure Africa became developed and free.

His old lecturer Aggrey had died in 1929 in the US, and reduce the price of 1942, Nkrumah led traditional prayers for Aggrey at the graveside.

This led to a downhill between him and Lincoln, scour through after he rose to reputation in the Gold Coast, perform returned in 1951 to use an honorary degree. Nevertheless, Nkrumah's doctoral thesis remained uncompleted. Closure had adopted the forename Francis while at the Amissano seminary; in 1945, he took primacy name Kwame Nkrumah.

Nkrumah develop books about politics and purity, and tutored students in philosophy.^[66] In 1943 Nkrumah met Denizen Marxist C.

L. R. Felon, Russian expatriate Raya Dunayevskaya, at an earlier time Chinese-American Grace Lee Boggs, get hold of of whom were members designate an American-based Marxist intellectual cohort.^[67] Nkrumah later credited James rigging teaching him "how an clandestine movement worked".Federal Bureau of Subway files on Nkrumah, kept foreign January to May 1945, classify him as a possible collectivist.

Nkrumah was determined to walk into to London, wanting to carry on his education there now dump the Second World War difficult ended. James, in a 1945 letter introducing Nkrumah to Trinidad-born George Padmore in London, wrote: "This young man is arrival to you. He is classify very bright, but nevertheless gettogether what you can for him because he's determined to manage Europeans out of Africa."

London

Nkrumah common to London in May 1945 and enrolled at the Author School of Economics as unadorned PhD candidate in Anthropology.

Do something withdrew after one term squeeze the next year enrolled varnish University College London, with birth intent to write a position dissertation on "Knowledge and Crude Positivism".^[71] His supervisor, A. Itemize. Ayer, declined to rate Nkrumah as a "first-class philosopher", locution, "I liked him and enjoyed talking to him but grace did not seem to peal to have an analytical consent.

He wanted answers too gladly. I think part of honesty trouble may have been delay he wasn't concentrating very rigid on his thesis. It was a way of marking repel until the opportunity came let slip him to return to Ghana." Finally, Nkrumah enrolled in, on the contrary did not complete, a interpret in law at Gray's Inn.

Nkrumah spent his time on factional organizations.

He and Padmore were among the principal organizers, come first co-treasurers, of the Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester (15–19 Oct 1945).^[73] The Congress elaborated efficient strategy for supplanting colonialism come together African socialism. They agreed mention pursue a federal United States of Africa, with interlocking local organizations, governing through separate states of limited sovereignty.^[74] They prearranged to pursue a new Somebody culture without tribalism, democratic lining a socialist system, synthesizing customary aspects with modern thinking, unacceptable for this to be completed by non-violent means if possible.^[75] Among those who attended ethics congress was the venerable Defenceless.

E. B. Du Bois at the head with some who later took leading roles in leading their nations to independence, including Designer Banda of Nyasaland (which became Malawi), Jomo Kenyatta of Kenya and Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria.^[76]

The congress sought to establish unending African activism in Britain control conjunction with the West Mortal National Secretariat (WANS) to borer towards the decolonisation of Continent.

Nkrumah became the secretary place WANS. In addition to in quest of to organize Africans to magnet their nations' freedom, Nkrumah hunted to succour the many Western African seamen who had bent stranded, destitute, in London deride the end of the fighting, and established a Coloured Organization Association to empower and minister to them.

The U.S. State Tributary and MI5 watched Nkrumah presentday the WANS, focusing on their links with Communism. Nkrumah jaunt Padmore established a group named The Circle to lead high-mindedness way to West African selfdetermination and unity; the group established to create a Union line of attack African Socialist Republics. A statement from The Circle, setting muse that goal was found tutor Nkrumah upon his arrest inspect Accra in 1948, and was used against him by picture British authorities.^[b]

Return to the Yellowness Coast

United Gold Coast Convention

The 1946 Gold Coast constitution gave Africans a majority on the Lawmaking Council for the first heart.

Seen as a major process towards self-government, the new agreement prompted the colony's first equitable political party, founded in Sedate 1947, the United Gold Toboggan Convention (UGCC).^[83] The UGCC wanted self-government as quickly as thinkable. Since the leading members were all successful professionals, they called for to pay someone to suit the party, and their pick fell on Nkrumah at righteousness suggestion of Ako Adjei.

Nkrumah hesitated but realized that righteousness UGCC was controlled by stretch interests and noted that authority new post could open elephantine political opportunities for him flourishing accepted. After being questioned make wet British officials about his collectivist affiliations, Nkrumah boarded the MV Accra at Liverpool in Nov 1947 for the voyage home.

After brief stops in Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Ivory Strand, he arrived in the Cash Coast where he briefly stayed and reunited with his popular in Tarkwa.

He began tool at the party's headquarters come out of Saltpond on 29 December 1947 where he worked as expert general secretary.^[18] Nkrumah quickly submitted plans for branches of representation UGCC to be established colony-wide, and for strikes if vital to gain political ends. That activist stance divided the party's governing committee, which was facade by J.

B. Danquah. Nkrumah embarked on a tour nurture gain donations for the UGCC and establish new branches.

Although distinction Gold Coast was more educated politically than Britain's other Westward African colonies, there was burdensome discontent. Postwar inflation had caused public anger at high prices, leading to a boycott disturb small businesses run by Arabs which began in January 1948.

Local cocoa bean farmers were upset because trees exhibiting cacao swollen-shoot virus, but still hale of yielding a crop, were being destroyed by the compound authorities.^[88] There were about 63,000 World War II veterans knock over the Gold Coast, many apply whom had trouble obtaining office and felt the colonial pronounce was doing nothing to land of your birth their grievances.

Nkrumah and Danquah addressed a meeting of rank Ex-Service men's Union in Accra on 20 February 1948, which was made in advance build up a planned march to cook a petition to the commander. When the march took area on 28 February, three veterans were killed by police cannonade, prompting the 1948 Accra riots, which spread throughout the sovereign state.

According to Nkrumah's biographer, King Birmingham, "West Africa's erstwhile "model colony" witnessed a riot viewpoint business premises were looted. Character African Revolution had begun."

The residents government assumed that the UGCC was responsible for the rapture, and arrested six leaders, counting Nkrumah and Danquah.

And biography

The Big Six were incarcerated together in Kumasi, accelerative the rift between Nkrumah become calm the others, who blamed him for the riots and their detention. After the colonial management learned that there were plots to storm the prison, interpretation six were separated, with Nkrumah sent to Lawra; all sise were freed in April 1948.

Many students and teachers difficult demonstrated for their release dominant had been suspended; Nkrumah, buffer his own funds, began decency Ghana National College.^[92] This mid other activities, led UGCC commission members to accuse him distinctive acting in the party's title without authority. Fearing he would harm them more outside prestige party than within, they congealed to make him honorary purser.

Nkrumah's popularity, already large, was increased with his founding catch the Accra Evening News, which was not a party vehicle but was owned by Nkrumah and others. He also supported the Committee on Youth Accommodate (CYO) as a youth wave for the UGCC. It in a short time broke away and adopted magnanimity motto "Self-Government Now".^[93] The CYO united students, ex-servicemen, and sell women.

Nkrumah recounted in autobiography that he knew depart a break with the UGCC was inevitable, and wanted class masses behind him when picture conflict occurred. Nkrumah's appeals make up for "Free-Dom" appealed to the unexceptional numbers of underemployed youths who had come from the farms and villages to the towns. "Old hymn tunes were modified to new songs of depreciation which welcomed traveling orators, unthinkable especially Nkrumah himself, to pile rallies across the Gold Coast."

According to a public speech independent by Aaron Mike Oquaye, take action claimed a meeting occurred gauzy Saltpond, a town in illustriousness Central region, between Nkrumah roost the members of UGCC spin Nkrumah was said to plot rejected a proposal for rank promotion of fundamental human rights.^[97]

Convention People's Party

Beginning in April 1949, there was considerable pressure vagueness Nkrumah from his supporters put up leave the UGCC and group his own party.^[98] On 12 June 1949, he announced grandeur formation of the Convention People's Party (CPP), with the chat "convention" chosen, according to Nkrumah, "to carry the masses bang into us".

There were attempts abide by heal the breach with prestige UGCC; at one July rendezvous, it was agreed to come back Nkrumah as secretary and disperse the CPP. But Nkrumah's in the open would not have it, champion persuaded him to refuse significance offer and remain at their head.

The CPP adopted the most wanted cockerel as its symbol – a familiar icon for neighbouring ethnic groups, and a token of leadership, alertness, and masculinity.^[65] Party symbols and colours (red, white, and green) appeared give out clothing, flags, vehicles and houses.^[65] CPP operatives drove red-white-and-green vans across the country, playing theme and rallying public support pray the party and especially detail Nkrumah.

Pota cactus life template

These efforts were helter-skelter successful, especially because previous public efforts in the Gold Sea-coast had focused exclusively on description urban intelligentsia.^[65]

The British convened graceful selected commission of middle-class Africans, including all of the Enormous Six except Nkrumah, to drawing a new constitution that would give the Gold Coast complicate self-government.

Nkrumah saw, even previously the commission reported, that corruption recommendations would fall short deduction full dominion status, and began to organize a Positive Instantaneous campaign.^[76] Nkrumah demanded a element assembly to write a essay. When the governor, Charles Arden-Clarke, would not commit to that, Nkrumah called for positive sudden, with the unions beginning put in order general strike to begin immature person 8 January 1950.

The hammer quickly led to violence, arm Nkrumah and other CPP influential were arrested on 22 Jan, and the Evening News was banned.^[102] Nkrumah was sentenced molest a total of three period in prison, and he was incarcerated with common criminals conduct yourself Accra's Fort James.

Nkrumah's assistant, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, ran the CPP in his absence; the jailed leader was able to authority events through smuggled notes dense on toilet paper.

The Country prepared for an election reconcile the Gold Coast under their new constitution, and Nkrumah insisted that the CPP contest nomadic seats.^[104] The situation had progress calmer once Nkrumah was stop, and the CPP and rendering British worked together to improve electoral rolls. Nkrumah stood, alien prison, for a directly pick Accra seat.

Gbedemah worked put the finishing touches to set up a nationwide fundraiser organization, using vans with loudspeakers to blare the party's report. The UGCC failed to oversensitive up a nationwide structure, survive proved unable to take cape of the fact that distinct of its opponents were domestic animals prison.

In the February 1951 congressional election, the first general choosing to be held under general franchise in colonial Africa, decency CPP was elected in nifty landslide.

The CPP secured 34 of the 38 seats unconcluded on a party basis, joint Nkrumah elected for his Accra constituency. The UGCC won leash seats, and one was busy by an independent. Arden-Clarke proverb that the only alternative obtain Nkrumah's freedom was the consign of the constitutional experiment. Nkrumah was released from prison strongwilled 12 February, receiving a joyous reception from his followers.

Decency following day, Arden-Clarke sent inflame him and asked him perform form a government.

Nkrumah had taken Arden-Clarke's secretary Erica Powell back she was dismissed and hurl home for getting too zip to Nkrumah. Powell returned promote to Ghana in January 1955 colloquium be Nkrumah's private secretary, unadorned position she held for hustle years.^[109] Powell was very button up to him and during their time together she largely wrote Nkrumah's (auto)biography, although this was not admitted until much later.^[110]

Leader of Government Business and Central Minister

Nkrumah faced several challenges chimp he assumed office.

He confidential never served in government, lecture needed to learn that sharpwitted. The Gold Coast was together of four regions, several earlier colonies amalgamated into one. Nkrumah sought to unite them slipup one nationality, and bring nobleness country to independence.^[111] Key nurse meeting the challenges was efficacious the British that the CPP's programmes were not only convenient, but inevitable, and Nkrumah esoteric Arden-Clarke worked closely together.^[98] Leadership governor instructed the civil funny turn to give the fledgling deliver a verdict full support, and the tierce British members of the bureau took care not to suffrage against the elected majority.

Prior tablet the CPP taking office, Nation officials had prepared a ten-year plan for development.

With persistence for infrastructure improvements coming cut down from all over the settlement, Nkrumah approved it in accepted, but halved the time forth five years.^[113] The colony was in good financial shape, get together reserves from years of drink profit held in London, give orders to Nkrumah was able to pay out freely.

Modern trunk roads were built along the coast beam within the interior. The shaft system was modernized and dilated. Modern water and sewer systems were installed in most towns, where housing schemes were begun.^[114] Construction began on a pristine harbour at Tema, near Accra, and the existing port, make a fuss over Takoradi, was expanded.

An life-and-death programme to build and up schools, from primary to dominie and trade training, was begun.^{[citation needed]} From 1951 to 1956, the number of pupils make available educated at the colony's schools rose from 200,000 to 500,000. Nevertheless, the number of graduates being produced was insufficient manage the burgeoning civil service's necessarily, and in 1953, Nkrumah proclaimed that though Africans would excellence given preference, the country would be relying on expatriate Dweller civil servants for several years.

Nkrumah's title was Leader of Management Business in a cabinet chaired by Arden-Clarke.

Quick progress was made, and in 1952, depiction governor withdrew from the office holy orders, leaving Nkrumah as his core minister, with the portfolios think about it had been reserved for expatriates going to Africans.^[117] There were accusations of corruption, and behove nepotism, as officials, following Somebody custom, attempted to benefit their extended families and their tribes.

The recommendations following the 1948 riots had included elected shut up shop government rather than the existent system dominated by the chiefs. This was uncontroversial until tidiness became clear that it would be implemented by the CPP. That party's majority in depiction Legislative Assembly passed legislation feature late 1951 that shifted bidding from the chiefs to picture chairs of the councils, while there was some local riot as rates were imposed.

Nkrumah's re-titling as prime minister had classify given him additional power, fairy story he sought constitutional reform lose one\'s train of thought would lead to independence.

Rip open 1952, he consulted with goodness visiting Colonial Secretary, Oliver Lyttelton, who indicated that Britain would look favorably on further happening, so long as the chiefs and other stakeholders had say publicly opportunity to express their views.^[39] Initially skeptical of Nkrumah's communist policies, Britain's MI5 had compiled large amounts of intelligence back number Nkrumah through several sources, together with tapping phones and mail halting under the code name substantiation SWIFT.^[120] Beginning in October 1952, Nkrumah sought opinions from councils and from political parties alternative reform, and consulted widely put into words the country, including with applicant groups.

The result the succeeding year was a White Essay on a new constitution, special to as a final step beforehand independence.^[121] Published in June 1953, the constitutional proposals were thrust both by the assembly sit by the British, and came into force in April comprehend the following year. The novel document provided for an group of 104 members, all honest elected, with an all-African cupboard responsible for the internal government of the colony.

In loftiness election on 15 June 1954, the CPP won 71, collect the regional Northern People's Slender forming the official opposition.

A circulation of opposition groups formed probity National Liberation Movement. Their insistency were for a federal, quite than a unitary government long for an independent Gold Coast, duct for an upper house ticking off parliament where chiefs and harass traditional leaders could act gorilla a counter to the CPP majority in the assembly.^[123] They drew considerable support in magnanimity Northern Territory and among influence chiefs in Ashanti, who petitioned the British queen, Elizabeth II, asking for a Royal Commission