The smart, skillful way Nkrumah directed photos to be taken without saying a word

Ghana's former President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah used his walking stick not just as a fashion accessory or support, but also as a subtle communication tool.

The former leader developed a coded system with his photographer, Chris Hesse, using the walking stick to signal when photos should be taken.

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For instance, if the stick appeared first before he stepped out of his car, it meant the photographer should start shooting; if it appeared later, no photos were to be taken.

Read an article originally published on GhanaWeb on Saturday, July 13, 2024, that details these skills:

Using a walking stick might seem old-school today, but in Kwame Nkrumah’s days, it had a different fashionistic feel to it.

And Nkrumah had one or a few of them, which he mostly used any time he was out on official duties.

However, the stick in the hands of Ghana’s first president did not only serve as a fashion addition, or even as a support in his walking, but he used it to do something much more different - to communicate.

According to details shared by HIGHLIFE Lives On on X, it said Nkrumah had a special coded language that his walking sticks communicated to his photographer in particular.

Instead of using eye contact or whispering a message, or otherwise, Nkrumah is believed to have rather ‘spoken’ to his photographer using the stick in his hand.

By gesturing to him with the stick, depending on how and when he moved it or positioned it, the message got to his photographer on what he needed to do. Unique, it was, and it did get him great results, too.

The post said, “Dr Nkrumah often used his cane walking stick to communicate with his photographer, Chris Hesse (Now Reverend).

“When he attended events and his cane emerged first before he stepped out of his car, it was a signal for the cameraman to take shots. If it came late, then no shots.”

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The post was also accompanied by a photo of Nkrumah using his stick as he walked side by side with some foreign dignitaries.

See the post below:

Dr. Nkrumah often used his cane walking stick to communicate with his photographer Chris Hesse(Now Reverend)

When he attended events and his cane emerged first before he stepped out of his car, it was a signal for the cameraman to take shots.

If it came late, then no shots. pic.twitter.com/hkNBjWjugY

— HIGHLIFE lives ON (@GyapKay) July 11, 2024