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Kwame Nkrumah

Ghanaian politician (1909-1972) · Ghana · Politicians · Died at 62

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He led the Gold Coast to independence in 1957, making Ghana the first sub-Saharan African nation to break from colonial rule - then spent a decade trying to forge the entire continent into a single socialist state under his own presidency before a coup ended the experiment.

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A life in dates

2004Order of the Companions of O. R. TamboAward1972Died27 April 19721967“We know that the traditional African society was founded on principles of egalitarianism. In its actual workings, however, it had various shortcomings.”In their wordsAfrican Socialism Revisited, 1967.

1965“I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.”In their wordsQuoted in Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism, 1965.

Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia RestitutaAwardChairperson of the Organisation of African UnityOffice1965-19661964“Capitalism is a development by refinement from feudalism just as feudalism is a development by refinement from slavery. … Capitalism is but the gentleman's method of slavery.”In their wordsConsciencism: Philosophy and Ideology for Decolonisation, 1964

1963Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian RepublicAward1961Collar of the Order of the White LionAward1960President of GhanaOffice1960-19661957“Capitalism is too complicated a system for a newly independent nation. Hence the need for a socialistic society.”In their wordsThe Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah (1957), p. x.

“We cannot tell our peoples that material benefits in growth and modern progress are not for them.”In their wordsQuoted in Canadian Institute of International Affairs International Journal, Volumes 13-14 (1957), p. 160.

Minister for DefenceOffice1957-1960Prime Minister of GhanaOffice1957-19601956Member of the 1st Parliament of the 1st Republic of GhanaOffice1956-19601954Member of the 2nd Parliament of the Gold CoastOffice1954-19561951Member of the 1st Parliament of the Gold CoastOffice1951-19541909Born21 September 1909

Also in Deutsch

Photos 8

1989 CPA 61011989 CPA 61011 penny (Ghanaian pound)1 penny (Ghanaian pound)1 shilling (Ghanaian pound)1 shilling (Ghanaian pound)10 pesewas (1958)10 pesewas (1958)President John F. Kennedy Meets with the President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (JFKWHP-AR6409-A)President John F. Kennedy Meets with the President of the Republic of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah (JFKWHP-AR6409-A)Bespreking Nhrumah-Nasser over Vietnam te Cairo, Bestanddeelnr 918-8345Bespreking Nhrumah-Nasser over Vietnam te Cairo, Bestanddeelnr 918-83452 shillings (Ghanaian pound)2 shillings (Ghanaian pound)25 pesewas (1958)25 pesewas (1958)

In their own words 10

,
Kwame Nkrumah
,
10 statements, newest first

  1. We know that the traditional African society was founded on principles of egalitarianism. In its actual workings, however, it had various shortcomings.

    1967, African Socialism Revisited, 1967., Own words

  2. I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.

    1965, Quoted in Neo-Colonialism: The Last Stage of Imperialism, 1965., Own words

  3. Capitalism is a development by refinement from feudalism just as feudalism is a development by refinement from slavery. … Capitalism is but the gentleman's method of slavery.

    1964, Consciencism: Philosophy and Ideology for Decolonisation, 1964, Own words

Wikiquote, CC BY-SA 4.0

Awards

Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo2004
Grand Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta1965
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic1963
Collar of the Order of the White Lion1961
Lenin Peace Prize

Family

Kwame Nkrumah

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About this person

Nkrumah spent twelve years abroad sharpening a pan-Africanist philosophy before returning home to form the Convention People's Party, which rode unprecedented common-voter appeal to power. He became Prime Minister in 1952 and in 1957 steered Ghana to independence, a first south of the Sahara. As president from 1960, he built schools and industries, hosted liberation movements, and co-founded the Organisation of African Unity - all while pushing a vision of continent-wide socialist consolidation with himself at the helm. An alleged assassination plot and economic trouble hardened him: by 1964 Ghana was a one-party state, Nkrumah president for life, the Kwame Nkrumah Ideological Institute spreading his doctrine of Nkrumaism. In 1966 a coup deposed him; he lived out his years as honorary co-president of Guinea. The BBC named him African of the millennium in 1999.

Country
Ghana
Category
Politicians
Type
Politician
Status
deceased
Dates
Lived 1909 to 1972 · aged 62

Politicians from Ghana 6

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