SOME GHANAIANS CELEBRATED NKRUMAH COUP?

Since US Africa Command (AFRICOM) General Michael Langley recently accused Pan-Africanist Burkina Faso President Ibrahim Traoré of using the country’s gold to support a ‘junta regime,’ the events of 1966 in Ghana serve as a cautionary tale.

As content creator @kobe_boujee (IG) shares in this video, a section of Ghanaians celebrated the CIA-orchestrated coup against Ghana’s first leader and Pan-Africanist, Kwame Nkrumah (1909-72).

Following his ouster, the new administration, friendly to the West, reversed much of Nkrumah’s progressive policies. Nkrumah worked toward reducing external dependence; and advocated policies boosting agriculture; built the Akosombo Dam that facilitated growth of industry; and initiated housing projects, public transportation systems, and labour rights initiatives. He also nationalised key sectors and promoted the development of local industries to create jobs and boost the economy.

Following the coup against Nkrumah, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) came through with austerity policies in tow. The coup led to the privatisation, mismanagement or neglect of industries like Ghana Airways, Ghana Film Industry Corporation, Ghana Rubber Estates Limited, Ghana National Trading Corporation, Ghana Sugar Factory and Ghana Timber Marketing Board. 

Today, the West African country imports a wide range of products, a far cry from Nkrumah’s vision of self-sufficiency. According to the Ghana 2023 Trade Report, imports made up 21.5 per cent of Ghana’s GDP in 2021. Moreover, as of 2022, it had gone begging to the IMF a record 17 times.

Do you think Ghanaians would have celebrated his ouster if they knew what was to come?

Video credit: @kobe_boujee (IG)

Sources

https://expressnewsghana.com/2025/02/24/remembering-osagyefo-dr-kwame-nkrumah-a-visionary-leader-and-the-unfulfilled-potential-of-his-overthrow/

https://www.theghanareport.com/ghana-a-country-that-demonised-its-hero-dr-kwame-nkrumah/

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/business/Why-Nkrumah-rejected-an-IMF-programme-in-1965-1652780

https://agricjournalist.com/kwame-nkrumahs-state-farms-ghanas-agricultural-dream

https://statsghana.gov.gh/gssmain/fileUpload/Trade/Ghana%202023%20Trade%20Report.pdf

https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/south-africas-eff-rejects-us-claims-on-burkina-faso-gold/0s9t45m

https://ghana.dubawa.org/tag/international-monetary-fund-imf