Kwame Nkrumah was a great man with a great vision for Ghana and Africa. He wrongly made himself the sole custodian and fulcrum of that vision. Why else would he have declared himself Osagyefo and president-for-life? Such political self-positioning when not moderated by compelling, introspective self-discipline and a free and active opposition, inevitably results in gross misdirection and misunderstanding of self and the polity, and gross abuse of power and the rights of fellow citizens.
Nkrumah started well but seemed to have lost his way well before the end of his rule. He championed Africa’s causes and was very active in the Non-aligned movement with such leaders as Fidel Castro of Cuba, Pandit Nehru of India, Gamel Nasser of Egypt, and Josef Tito of Yugoslavia. His rule, in the opinion of many, became more imperial than democratic in an emerging, freedom hungry, post-colonial country. He became too much of an internationalist at the expense of Ghana it seemed. Ghana presidency had become for him, no better than a ladder to the apex of the international political stage. He eyes strayed so far off the Ghana ball that he could only heard what he wanted to hear, and see what he wanted to see. He had his eyes on the hills without his feet on the ground.
Was Nkrumah as good for Ghana and he seemed to be for Africa and the developing world? A critical mass of Ghanaians at the time did not seem to think so. Nkrumah’s apparent loss of focus helped to create enabling conditions for successful interference in Ghana’s affairs by foreign powers as some have claimed. Nkrumah’s overthrow by Ghana’s military forces seemed popular at the time. The forces’ case against him and therefore justification for their seizure of power at the time, seemed unassailable?
Unfortunately, gross misrule of Ghana followed Nkrumah’s overthrow. The non-recognition of Nkrumah’s contribution to Ghana’s political independence from Britain by his immediate military successors, and the humiliation visited on him by them was disgraceful for many. The man was imperfect but he was not completely undeserving of some dignity out of office. History has revisited Nkrumah’s rule of Ghana. History has been so kind to him that it has for the most part ignored the many abuses of his government. Nkrumah’s resurrection has been near glorious. He is now acknowledged as possibly Ghana’s greatest leader and one of Africa’s greatest. The many abuses that trailed his rule are mostly forgotten or swept under the carpet.
Collective memory loss is always a possibility especially when history is so inaccurately rewritten, that its more significant lessons are either not learned or ignored. History they say, repeats itself. Bad history must not be allowed to repeat itself. A people should forgive and move on. They must not forget.
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Akurang-Parry, Kwabena
Sent: Sunday, February 24, 2013 4:22 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - OVERTHROW OF NKRUMAH 47 YEARS AGO!
LONG LIVE NKRUMAH! LONG LIVE GHANA! LONG LIVE PAN-AFRICANISM!
On 21 Feb., 1966, Kwame Nkrumah flew out of Accra to Hanoi, Democratic Republic of North Vietnam at the invitation of President Ho Chi Minh. Nkrumah was to offer his Vietnam War solution. Ghana was left in the control of a 3-man Presidential Commission, consisting of a traditional Chief and 2 politicians... (Ghanaweb, Feb 24, 2013). PLEASE, READ THE REST
http://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/photo.day.php?ID=52409
Kwabena
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