Biography

Kwame Nkrumah: Ghana’s Founding Father (1909-1972)

Early Life and Education

• Born September 21, 1909 in Nkroful, Gold Coast
• Educated at Achimota School (1927-1930)
• Studied in United States (1935-1945):
  • Lincoln University (BA Economics)
  • University of Pennsylvania (MA Education)
  • Attended London School of Economics (late 1930s; did not graduate)

Political Awakening

• Formed Convention People’s Party (CPP) in 1949
• Launched “Positive Action” campaign for self-governance
• Imprisoned by British (1950-1951) for political activism
• Won election from prison (1951)

Independence Leadership

• Led Gold Coast to independence as Ghana (March 6, 1957)
• Became first Prime Minister (1957-1960)
• Declared Ghana a Republic (July 1, 1960)
• Served as first President (1960-1966)

Major Achievements

• Began construction of Akosombo Dam (1961), completed and opened around 1965-1966 — provided electricity to Ghana/Togo
• Established:
  • Ghana Airways (1958)
  • Ghana National Construction Corporation
  • Many secondary schools and universities
• Introduced free basic education
• Created strong civil service system

United-African Vision

• Hosted All-African Peoples Conference (1958)
• Proposed United States of Africa
• Supported liberation movements:
  • ANC (South Africa)
  • FLN (Algeria)
  • PAIGC (Guinea-Bissau)
• Influenced formation of Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963

Overthrow and Exile

• Ousted in coup (February 24, 1966)
• Lived in exile in Guinea (1966-1972)
• Died April 27, 1972 in Bucharest, Romania
• Buried in native Nkroful (1992 reburial)

Legacy

• Mausoleum and memorial park in Accra
• Face appears on Ghanaian cedi notes
• Named “African of the Millennium” (2000)
• Influenced generations of pan-Africanists

Key Statistics

Achievement	Year/Data
Independence Day	March 6, 1957
Time in Office	9 years (1957-1966)
Akosombo Dam Capacity	1,020 MW
Universities Established	3

“We face neither East nor West: We face forward.” - Kwame Nkrumah