Historical Figure
Kwame Nkrumah
1909–1972
Ghanaian politician (1909–1972)
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Biography
Francis Kwame Nkrumah was a Ghanaian politician, political theorist, and revolutionary. He served as Prime Minister of the Gold Coast from 1952 until 1957, when it gained independence from Britain. He was then the first prime minister and then the president of Ghana, from 1957 until 1966. An influential advocate of Pan-Africanism, Nkrumah was a founding member of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) and winner of the Lenin Peace Prize from the Soviet Union in 1962.
In Their Own Words (5)
A state can be said to be a neo-colonialist or client state if it is independent de jure and dependent de facto. It is a state where political power lies in the conservative forces of the former colony and where economic power remains under the control of international finance capital.
"Sham independence," p. 8 , 1968
The result of neo-colonialism is that foreign capital is used for the exploitation rather than for the development of the less developed parts of the world. Investment under neo-colonialism increases rather than decreases the gap between the rich and the poor countries of the world.
"Introduction," x , 1965
The modifications introduced by imperialism in its strategy were expressed:(a) through the disappearance of the numerous old-fashioned "colonies" owing exclusive allegiance to a single metropolitan country.(b) through the replacement of "national" imperialisms by a "collective" imperialism in which the USA occupies a leading position.
"Collective imperialism," p. 6 , 1968
To the true African journalist, his newspaper is a collective organizer, a collective instrument of mobilization and a collective educator—a weapon, first and foremost, to overthrow colonialism and imperialism and to assist total African independence and unity.
At the Second Conference of African Journalists; Accra, November 11, 1963. , 1963
The essence of neo-colonialism is that the State which is subject to it is, in theory, independent and has all the outward trappings of international sovereignty. In reality its economic system and thus its political policy is directed from outside.
"Introduction," ix , 1965
Timeline
The story of Kwame Nkrumah, told in moments.
Returned to the Gold Coast after 12 years studying in the U.S. and UK. Read Marx, Gandhi, and Garvey. Organized strikes and boycotts against British colonial rule. Jailed twice.
Led Ghana to independence, the first sub-Saharan African country to break from colonial rule. "We prefer self-government with danger to servitude in tranquility," he told the crowd.
Became the first President of the Republic of Ghana. Championed pan-Africanism. Built the Akosombo Dam. But also detained opponents without trial and declared himself president for life.
Overthrown in a military coup while visiting China. Never returned to Ghana. Lived in exile in Guinea, where he was named honorary co-president.
Died of skin cancer in Bucharest, Romania, where he'd gone for treatment. Age 62.
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