Kvame Nkrumah Elected Prime Minister of the Gold Coast (later Republic of Ghana) Date of Birth: 21.03.1952 Country: Ghana

1. Early Life and Education
2. Studies in the United States
3. Political Activism
4. Leadership and Achievements
5. Ideology and Legacy

Early Life and Education

Kwame Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, in the Nzima tribe in the village of Nkroful, located in the southwestern part of the then Gold Coast (now Ghana). He received his education at a Catholic missionary school and Achimota College.

Studies in the United States

After working as a teacher in one of the schools in the Gold Coast, Nkrumah traveled to the United States in 1935 to pursue further studies. He obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in humanities from Lincoln University. While in the US, he also received a degree in theology and a master's degree in education and philosophy from the University of Pennsylvania.

Political Activism

In 1945, Nkrumah went to England to study law and write his doctoral dissertation under the guidance of philosopher A.D. Ayer. However, he soon dedicated himself entirely to politics. During his time in the US, Nkrumah became influenced by the works of Marcus Garvey and studied Marxism and the organization of various political parties and movements. In England, he became close to George Padmore and helped him organize the 5th Pan-African Congress in Manchester. Nkrumah became the General Secretary of the West African National Secretariat.

Leadership and Achievements

In 1947, Nkrumah received an invitation to return to the Gold Coast and assume the position of General Secretary of the United Gold Coast Convention. In 1949, he established his own organization, the mass-based Convention People's Party. Despite being imprisoned in 1950, Nkrumah was released in 1951 and appointed as the leader of government business. In 1952, he became the Prime Minister and led Ghana to independence in 1957. In 1960, Nkrumah was elected as the President of the country.

Ideology and Legacy

Nkrumah fought against tribalism and aimed to unite the country, directing all its resources towards rapid economic development. As an advocate for pan-Africanism, he provided selfless assistance to other African nationalist movements and upheld the principles of non-alignment in the Cold War. Nkrumah used harsh methods to implement his domestic policies, which led to opposition from officials, judges, intellectuals, and military officers. However, he remained a popular political figure. In February 1966, during a peace mission to Hanoi, Nkrumah was overthrown in a military coup. He found refuge in Guinea, where he was under the protection of President Sekou Toure, who made him co-president. Nkrumah passed away in Bucharest, Romania, on April 27, 1972.