Watch how Kwame Nkrumah was welcomed from prison in 1951

Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah received a rousing hero’s welcome after he was released from prison on February 12, 1951 following a win for his party, the Convention People's Party (CPP) in the general elections.

This follows the arrest of Dr Nkrumah in 1950 after he was accused of leading a ‘disturbing positive action’ campaign against the British colonial rule in the then Gold Coast.

The short footage which was sighted by GhanaWeb shows an excited crowd made up of women, men and children captured in joyous scenes on the release of their hero.

Known for being a people’s person, Dr Nkrumah, in the footage, was seen in an ‘open-top’ vehicle, shaking the hands of his Ghanaian people who had honored him with a hero’s welcome.

As leader of the newly formed government, Dr. Nkrumah prioritised unifying the four territories of the Gold Coast, as Ghana was previously known.

He led the decolonization process until Ghana achieved independence in 1957. Under his leadership, Ghana prospered and he was responsible for the building of new schools, railways, hospitals, a system for social security and an advanced economy.

The footage was posted via Twitter by @GhanaianMuseum on February 12 with the caption; “Footage of Kwame Nkrumah released from prison today on Feb 12, 1951 after his party, the CPP won the 1951 elections. He was arrested for leading a disturbing ‘positive action’ campaign in the Gold Coast against British rule in 1950”

PS: This video has no sound

Footage of Kwame Nkrumah released from prison today on Feb 12, 1951 after his party, the CPP won the 1951 elections. He was arrested for leading a disturbing ‘positive action’ campaign in the Gold Coast against British rule in 1950. pic.twitter.com/zl9QvLyD2l

— GHANA FACTS & HISTORY (@GhanaianMuseum) February 12, 2020