Kwame Nkrumah and Bringing Unity to Ghana Part Two

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Akwesi Atta Sakyi 10 years ago

Long live the name and ideologies of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, he was the best ever in the whole continent of Africa.

Long live the name and ideologies of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, he was the best ever in the whole continent of Africa.
Bogus posting 10 years ago

Bury your head in shame for impersonating him.We can tell it is not him.

Bury your head in shame for impersonating him.We can tell it is not him.
Mahmoud 10 years ago

Strong partisanship started in Ghana when Kwame Nkrumah divided the nation into patriots and traitors. Patriots were those who accepted that he should be president for life, practice one party state and communism and indulge ...
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Strong partisanship started in Ghana when Kwame Nkrumah divided the nation into patriots and traitors. Patriots were those who accepted that he should be president for life, practice one party state and communism and indulge in leftist anti-Western propaganda using the small country's meager resources to challenge centuries' old, well-established Western countries. They even accepted that he should act as savior of the Blackman around the world, while tyrannizing his own Black people at home because they had alternative views for development of their country.

Those who wanted him to concentrate more on basic needs of the young nation and tone down his rhetoric against the powerful were called traitors, reactionaries, and agents of imperialism that should be liquidated and imprisoned dead or alive. Could you believe that the opposition members he was tyrannizing were the very people who started the struggle for our independence? They employed Nkrumah and paid for his ticket from the UK to come and work as general secretary of the group, saving him from the tyranny of unemployment in London. The independence struggle vanguards were senior civil servants in the Gold Coast. And as their struggle was gaining momentum and scope of their activities widening, they needed someone to work full-time for the group; free from official work constrains to further spread message of the struggle.

Under their responsibility and protection, Nkrumah used the platform to become public face of the group and his popularity soared. This was because; many of the people in those days could not differentiate between the spokesperson and the leaders, and therefore, saw him as the person or the only person that was fighting for our independence. Subsequently, when he heard from the Governor General's female secretary, who was later sacked, that the British had been preparing to grant us independence, he increasingly used needless militant tactics to provoke the Whiteman, when it was clear that the wind of change was blowing, and also embarrass his employers in order to outfox them. He then used the opportunity to break away from the group, forming his own party and slapping them from behind to take power.

This explains the strong partisanship in the country and why Nkrumah didn't want the Liberation Vanguards to ever come to power in his life time. Maybe he was afraid of his own ghost or because of his being a red sickle communist. Unfortunately, and despite all these plain facts, his supporters still want us to believe that he initiated, spearheaded and single handedly fought for our independence, and name every national project after him as if we were in a kingdom.
Mahmoud 10 years ago

I have been challenged by Francis Kwarten to explain line by line what Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah said in his three-part series that confirms our claim, even remotely, that Nkrumah was a communist that cunningly and dishonestly ...
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I have been challenged by Francis Kwarten to explain line by line what Dr. Kwame Botwe-Asamoah said in his three-part series that confirms our claim, even remotely, that Nkrumah was a communist that cunningly and dishonestly used the UGCC platform as a cover to work against the group from within, and in the end stabbed them from behind to take power. Although the series were used by FK to rebut our argument, we actually found them to be in support of our position. Therefore, the following excerpts are only from Dr. Asamoah's Three-part series entitled, Kwame Nkrumah: The ONE and ONLY Founding Father of Ghana -2014 Independence Day Special..

UGCC MISTAKENLY HIRED A PAN-AFRICAN COMMUNIST
"The fact is Nkrumah initially was reluctant to accept the offer as he perceived the UGCC members to be “bourgeois reactionaries” enamored in capitalist ideology and philosophy." "Secondly, he, as the General-Secretary of West African National Secretariat, as well as Chairman of “The Circle,” was at the time busy working on a West African National Conference towards a Union of West African Socialist Republics, slated to be held in Lagos in October 1948."

CONSPIRACY HATCHED IN LONDON TO SABOTAGE UGCC
"Nonetheless, after meeting with his comrades in the West African National Secretariat, it was decided that Nkrumah should accept the offer and return to operationalize the 1945 Manchester Pan-African Congress resolutions. Nkrumah assured them that he would not compromise with the reactionaries and reformists in the UGCC (Smertin)"

UGCC SENSES DANGER (THEY HAVE PATAKU (Wolf) IN THEIR MIDST)
"They (UGCC) brought many charges against Nkrumah based on differences in vision, ideology, philosophy and strategy. One was the word “Comrade” in one of Nkrumah’s letters Obetsebi Lamptey and William Ofori Attah had confiscated from Nkrumah’s office in Saltpond. They quizzed him about the word comrade, since they found it to be synonymous with Communism. Second. The Working Committee accused Nkrumah of acting outside his authority…" "They blamed Ako Adjei for his role in recommending Nkrumah to the group." "Dr. J. B. Danquah wept saying that he would not have supported the recommendation by Ako Adjei, had he (Danquah) known of Nkrumah’s ideological persuasion."

SECRET NETWORK IN THE NAME OF UGCC TO OUTFOX ITS LEADERSHIP

"The (UGCC) Working Committee accused Nkrumah of establishing a Youth Study Group at youth movement with the Ashanti Youth Association and the Ghana Youth Association of Sekondi, and become known as the Committee on Youth Organization (CYO).The CYO, Nkrumah explained to the Working Committee, was to serve as the youth wing of the UGCC, yet they still objected to its formation. They found the CYO’s manifesto, “Self-Government Now” a threat to the program of the UGCC, “Self-Government within the shortest possible time.”… All the while, Nkrumah and his Comrades were working on turning the CYO into a political party." And that was the origin of the CPP party.
??/ 10 years ago

I wonder why this disgusting Arab clone doesn"t fuck off to Arabia to see real dictatorship in action.

I wonder why this disgusting Arab clone doesn"t fuck off to Arabia to see real dictatorship in action.
Bonsu 10 years ago

Paul's initial format of telling the story through the horses own mouth appealed to me more than the elaborate commentary which precedes the second part.However I Understand where you are coming from even if it is only to pre ...
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Paul's initial format of telling the story through the horses own mouth appealed to me more than the elaborate commentary which precedes the second part.However I Understand where you are coming from even if it is only to present a semblance of neutrality and fairness as some of Nkrumah's detractors seem to have imposed on you.

It has looked like you have been forced by the circumstances to shift your format to certify the critics.All the same what is important is the message and it is there for all to see.
Annorwuo 10 years ago

Given all the brouhaha,Paul Amuna,did the smart thing by laying the proper foundation for that difficult assignment he put on himself. As you have pointed out,he did not adulterate the facts [message] like the other side has ...
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Given all the brouhaha,Paul Amuna,did the smart thing by laying the proper foundation for that difficult assignment he put on himself. As you have pointed out,he did not adulterate the facts [message] like the other side has cunningly sought to do,all in an attempt to hoodwink,the gullible sections of our society! True, the Osagyefo was in a hurry,and I dare say that, but for his tenacity and correct assessment of this country`s problems,this country would still be a jungle,comprising a few masters,lording over a vast array of clueless serfs!
Oyokonana 10 years ago

Annorwuo,
U say:"...but for his tenacity and correct assessment of this country's problems, this country would still be a jungle,comprising a few masters, lording over a vast array of clueless serfs!"

My response: Whether ...
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Annorwuo,
U say:"...but for his tenacity and correct assessment of this country's problems, this country would still be a jungle,comprising a few masters, lording over a vast array of clueless serfs!"

My response: Whether the Osagyefuo assessed our problems correctly or not, ur observation holds true today, as it has always been. Ghana is still a jungle with a few overlords having a field day, to the dismay of the clueless "NDC" majority!

Nothing has changed, my brother.
Paul 10 years ago

I wrote the introductory commentary after reading comments from Part One. Perhaps it would have been better to bring in the commentary at the end, along with my summing up comments.

I wrote the introductory commentary after reading comments from Part One. Perhaps it would have been better to bring in the commentary at the end, along with my summing up comments.
Pelicles 10 years ago

If indeed our first leader wrote these in exile, then the problem is, he just made things up because he came to his senses as to what he did wrong.

Now, my question to Paul is this. Paul, do you believe that Nkrumah could ...
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If indeed our first leader wrote these in exile, then the problem is, he just made things up because he came to his senses as to what he did wrong.

Now, my question to Paul is this. Paul, do you believe that Nkrumah could have unite Africa at that time when some nations are "too raw" to understand what United Africa means?

That idea about Africa unity at that time is the beef I have with our first president. During that time, Europe wasn't even under a single flag. I believe he should have developed his new nation to envy of those leaders he was trying to cow into submission to buy his African Unity.

All the monies he used for something like Ghana-Guinea-Mali alliance was fruitless. While a whole lot needs to be done like constructing the road linking the two major cities in Ghana, he was busy with that failed "African Unity" idea.

Nkrumah, while in exile, came to his senses of what and where he went wrong hence this.

Kwadwo 10 years ago

All you have demonstrated from his book is that Nkrumah thought himself as the black political messiah and a demagogue who was willing to use every means necessary to accomplish his political ambitions. He only knew what was ...
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All you have demonstrated from his book is that Nkrumah thought himself as the black political messiah and a demagogue who was willing to use every means necessary to accomplish his political ambitions. He only knew what was good for the people of Ghana and the continent at large. And to continue his stay in power, he instituted the PDA, a one party state and declared himself president for life. Additionally, he financed and trained subversionists in Ghana to destabilize and overthrow governments that did not agree with his Africa
Unity dreams.
These are the hallmarks of a dictator and a demagogue. It is pathetic that even after his overthrow and exile, he continued with this diatribe to justify his inhuman treatment of those who opposed his rule.
Paul, as a medical doctor, what would you have told Nkrumah if after examining Danquah, he presented with a 220/120 blood pressure? I bet my bottom dollar that inspite of the tumultuous political climate, you would have recommended his immediate transfer to a top medical facility for care. What we know, however, is that an Eastern European communist medical doctor provided by Nkrumah, conveniently failed to realize that Danquah was stroking out and blamed this alarming blood pressure Danquah's anger. This is similar to what was happening in the gulag under Stalin. The apple doesn't fall too far from it's tree after all. As an officer of the Court and a believer in due process, I find it nauseating when the so called academics and sympathizers of Nkrumah attempt to use the then prevailing political climate to justify his dictatorial policies. Unless some of them received their degrees researching the politics of Nkrumah, I don't understand how anyone can justify the repressive policies of Nkrumah.
Paul 10 years ago

Kwadwo, thank for your critical comments. First of all, to go to the patient with a BP of 210/120, of course my immediate action would be to admit and institute corrective measures to stabilize the BP etc. The question is, wh ...
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Kwadwo, thank for your critical comments. First of all, to go to the patient with a BP of 210/120, of course my immediate action would be to admit and institute corrective measures to stabilize the BP etc. The question is, which doctor examined Danquah and found his BP to be so high and at what point? And what treatment did they put him on? We understand from the excerpts of his own letter that his wife had visited and they had had a "serious argument" about his "apparent refusal to tone down his rhetoric in order to be released from detention as others had been released". If that is true, don't you think that true to his character, Danquah himself must have allowed his 'stubbornness' to get in the way? I think many of u are ignoring some crucial aspects and the fact is "you and I were not there" to borrow Bawumia's famous quote. So how are we to know the facts of the case and the clinical state of the 'patient' if indeed we choose to characterize him as such? In trying to be critical, we also need to be objective in assessing the circumstances of Danquah, a situation which the president might not even have a had first hand knowledge of. We are told Nkrumah "wept" when he was told about Danquah's death from a cardiac problem. We are also now told that he had even been released TWO days earlier and he apparently had not taken the offer??? The trouble with 'third party reports' is that it can always distort the facts!!!

As to your view that Nkrumah's narrative as presented here only goes to demonstrate his belief that he was "the black messiah" is a rather harsh, unfair and in my view untrue statement. If you followed the man's biography, even before he became president, all the way through, and if you follow his actions and functions in Ghana (on an almost daily basis - read some of his speeches) and on the continent and international stage, you will find that although he played a leading role everywhere and was full of ideas and a vision, there were simply FEW others who were able to, or prepared to make similar sacrifices in support of, or in defence of Africa and to sacrifice their time, life, pleasures etc. for the cause of Africa and indeed 'the black man' if you like.

At the time, and even subsequently when he was in exile, it would amaze you the many people who flung to him to extort from him in the name of trying to continue the fight!!

As to the accusations of Nkrumah supporting subversive activities (whilst in exile), would you call the fight for freedom e.g. from the Cape Verde and Equitorial Guinea areas by Maurice Bishop and others subversive? Would you call the fight against apartheid S. Africa, Angola, Rhodesia etc.subversive? Perhaps you will be kind enough to name some specific examples so that we can discuss.

The fact is, whether a good idea or not, the PDA was brought in, and he is trying to explain the underlying currents and factors which in his view 'forced' his government to undertake such actions in the name of 'defence of the national sovereignty and agenda for development, national unity and cohesion'. Whatever we think or make of its merits or de-merits, at least he is trying to justify it.

I am personally averse to detention without proper cause, justification and endlessly without trial. I have been an opponent of some of the approaches used today by various governments to curtail freedom of speech, expression etc. and for the simple reason that it is easy to hide behind what theoretically may be a sensible deterrent law, to abuse and misuse it. As other commentators have said e.g. Baako, the journalist, "the PDA may have been abused by some even though it was necessary at the time". That should not define Nkrumah and his work and place in our history both home and abroad.

My advice to you is simple. As a democrat and someone who I can see believes passionately in democracy and the rule of law etc. please try and keep an open mind, do not believe what others say, but rather try and verify. I have come to see Nkrumah for who he was from reading and searching, and being critical. I was never indoctrinated, nor brainwashed by anyone. Mind you, I have been roundly attacked by some so-called Nkrumaists in the past just for speaking up and being critical of what I see as obvious failings and flaws. I will do so again should the need arise.

Finally, let me assure you that I wouldn't have shared this with our fellow readers but for the fact that I felt that the narrative over the last month or so, had been too one-sided and tried to create the impression that Danquah was such a great statesman who had been so ill-treated by Nkrumah, and to add to that, an impression created that Nkrumah was simply a "brutal dictator". As a believer in freedom, justice and fair play, I couldn't sit idly by and allow this to continue, nor am i prepared to allow history to be distorted in the way that it was being done, for the sake of 'political correctness and expediency'.

Let me leave you with one historical fact: The proposition of the name GHANA as our name at independence was NOT, repeat, NOT Danquah's idea but rather Nkrumah's. Danquah merely AGREED with Nkrumah's proposition "after he had done his own homework'. We have been told by numerous politicians and people who should know better that it was Danquah who chose the name Ghana but this is one of those errors 'creeping into our national history'. How would you regard such an error, however minute?
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

But how does your rambling answer any of the salient questions raised about Nkrumah's dictatorship?

You state:

"I have come to see Nkrumah for what he was by reading and searching....."

But you don't tell us who he ...
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But how does your rambling answer any of the salient questions raised about Nkrumah's dictatorship?

You state:

"I have come to see Nkrumah for what he was by reading and searching....."

But you don't tell us who he was or how any of the things we allege he was differ from who you think he was.

You state:

"An impression is created that Nkrumah was simply a "brutal dictator". As a believer in freedom, justice and fair play, I couldn't sit idly by and allow this to continue, nor am I prepared to allow history to be distorted in the way that it was being done, for the sake of 'political correctness and expediency'.

If a man who incarcerated others without trial, who took away the power of the courts and became the court, who declared a nation one party state with himself as life president.....if such a person was not a dictator, then who is??
And how can you be " a believer in freedom and justice and fair play" if you don't see anything wrong with any of Nkrumah's actions?

And when you say, "I couldn't sit by for history to be distorted", which part of history is distorted when we designate Nkrumah as "a brutal dictator".

Elsewhere, you state that you are not Nkrumaist, and that you have not been brainwashed, and that you are being objective. I can tell you that if you lived for a thousand years, you would not know that you are simply clueless: people like you are trained to imbibe, not to think or analyze.
Paul 10 years ago

Dr SAS, I hope you are as passionate as this in condemning the renditions, detentions, rough treatments and more recently the increased rates of fatal shootings of black men and other minorities in the United States by Police ...
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Dr SAS, I hope you are as passionate as this in condemning the renditions, detentions, rough treatments and more recently the increased rates of fatal shootings of black men and other minorities in the United States by Police who then are not even arraigned before a court of law. I also hope you are at the forefront of fighting racial profiling and detention of people for long periods on the grounds of 'fighting terror', some having been in detention for 12 years now and being released because "they were not found to be a threat" after all.

I think i made it clear where I stand on these issues. I am averse to detention without proper reason for for long periods without addressing the grievance. Where do you stand on the issue, then and now?
Dr. SAS, Criminal Defense Attorney 10 years ago

You should answer the issues I have raised instead of trying to run away from them. I am a damned good lawyer, and I am aware of the scope and boundaries of my work....

Run your eyes over your present post, and you will se ...
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You should answer the issues I have raised instead of trying to run away from them. I am a damned good lawyer, and I am aware of the scope and boundaries of my work....

Run your eyes over your present post, and you will see that it amounts to nothing in the context of the present debate. Is it your proposition that the existence of evil elsewhere justifies the existence of evil everywhere?

And you blame me for regarding you as one of the most stupid fools around here. It is all your fault: you make me feel too smart in answering your arguments.

In general, the Nkrumaist position is doomed ab initio: they must defend the misbehavior of a tyrant and a traitor...his imprisonment without trial, his declaration of one party state, his conferment of the power to overrule court judgments, his declaration of life presidency....

Even for an attorney trained to defend both sides of an argument, I pity the awkward and contradictory position of the Nkrumaists. But their position is understandable because they were indoctrinated to imbibe the propaganda that Nkrumah does no wrong, and that Nkrumah never dies. Fortunately for all of us, these people who are old and decrepit will soon die off with their shibboleth.

But you and I, the younger generation, have a duty to dissect the truth, and let it guide our actions. My disappointment is that as a medical doctor, you may be good at dissecting bodies, both dead and living, but you will not or cannot dissect basic truth.
Kwadwo 10 years ago

Paul, I have never ones extolled the virtues of Danquah and his contributions on this forum. All I have argued is that no person should be incarcerated without charge and trial. This along with the declaration of a one party ...
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Paul, I have never ones extolled the virtues of Danquah and his contributions on this forum. All I have argued is that no person should be incarcerated without charge and trial. This along with the declaration of a one party state and life presidency is what I have characterized Nkrumah as a dictator. I have also praised Nkrumah on some of his development projects. Francis Kwarteng can attest to this.
Nkrumah's subversive activities in Togo and the then Upper Volta are well documented and that was what I was talking about. He trained mercenaries in Ghana for such activities under Chinese and Soviet instructors.
My only fear is that if we do not call a spade a spade, in the future someone will also attempt to use the same prevailing political climate argument to also justify the brutalities of Rawlings' rule. They will say attempts were made on his life or to overthrow him so he had to kill, imprison and torture people without trial in order to " hurry" his revolutionary agenda for the good of the country. This will be argued. Paul. That is why we must not waiver as far as due process is concerned.
KKO 10 years ago

It is good that we have a decent debate on these issues because they are still very relevant to the future of our country, and especially, since the Nkrumaists do not ever wish to move from their entrenched position. Their co ...
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It is good that we have a decent debate on these issues because they are still very relevant to the future of our country, and especially, since the Nkrumaists do not ever wish to move from their entrenched position. Their continued vilification of Danquah and others is particularly unhelpful.

Kufuor went as far as giving major positions to Prof Akosa, Kabral Amihere, Dr Nduom, Freddie Blay and others. Even the consistently lying Kwesi Pratt was included on state delegations, which Jerry Rawlings, Atta Mills never did and Mahama will never do. By extending the olive branch, Nana Akufo-Addo was only trying to continue the national healing process which we have to do as a matter of national urgency.

I read the French version of “Kwame Nkrumah of the New Africa” as required text in Form 2. Coming from a very similar background (orphaned at a very early age with a poor mother and depending on others for education), I could identify with Kwame Nkrumah’s plight, but that is where we parted ways.

What happened in Ghana after independence, occurred in nearly every African country that attained independence between 1957 and 1965. Even the Mao Mao who fought a bitter war against the British later turned on themselves. Ironically, it was the leaders like Kwame Nkrumah, Sekou Toure and Modibo Keita who resorted to draconian measures whose legacies are now in tatters!

In retrospect the UP policy of a federalist Ghana would almost certainly have advanced Ghana far more rapidly than we achieved under the CPP’s unitary policy. At independence, there were pockets of prosperity in places like Sekondi-Takoradi, Kumasi, Oda, Agona Swedru, and a few places. What the concentration of development in Accra-Tema did was to bring everyone to Accra, robbing most of our rural areas of the able bodied young men and women who were helping on the cocoa farms, etc.

Central Region was second in cocoa production in Ghana. Today, it is believed to be the poorest region in Ghana. While Kwame Nkrumah was preaching “tighten your belts”, the opposition could see his ministers acquiring property and living like sheikhs, as he himself dissipated Ghana’s resources on subversive activities against those African countries that did not agree with him. In February 1966, several very well resourced training camps (Obenemase, Konongo, and others), for the training of dissidents, were discovered. In my secondary school alone there were about twenty students from Tanzania, Kenya, Zambia, Uganda and other places having completely free education while Ghanaians who could not pay their school fees were sacked. These were the issues the opposition was complaining about.

As for the treatment of JB Danquah, it was simply unpardonable, and there were several cases like that, as revealed by the reports of the Commissions of Enquiry. Back in 1965, even a houseman who observed a 69 year old man with a blood pressure of 220/120 would have rushed him to the nearest location for proper medical care. It is really difficult to convince anyone that it was not intentional!

The astute politician that he was and having lived in the west for so long, it is difficult to believe that Kwame Nkrumah could not have foreseen the repercussions of his strident rhetoric against the west. Apparently, not even did the rapidly falling price of cocoa on the international market ring a bell with him.

The failure of the quest for a united African Government was so obvious that it is amazing that he could not foresee it. Kwame Nkrumah and Ahmed ben Bellah of Algeria divided the OAU from its inception. Then he began planning the overthrow of everyone who did not agree with him, including his old friend Azikwe. Was it really that surprising that he made enemies at home and abroad? And what if those other heads of state wanted him overthrown?
??? 10 years ago

Your heart is in the right place.Keep adorning traitor Danquah with the ornamental excrement that he deserves.

Your heart is in the right place.Keep adorning traitor Danquah with the ornamental excrement that he deserves.
Paul 10 years ago

You have made some good points which i agree with, but to say that the likes of Nkrumah's "legacy is in tatters" couldn't be further from the truth.

Apart from the continuing recognition at the AU and in world affairs, eve ...
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You have made some good points which i agree with, but to say that the likes of Nkrumah's "legacy is in tatters" couldn't be further from the truth.

Apart from the continuing recognition at the AU and in world affairs, even CAF (confederation of African football) recently gave him a posthumous award for his "contribution and services to football in Ghana and Africa"!!! Isn't it interesting that he can even be so recognised? in an area which probably accounted for perhaps less than 0.1 per cent of his entire body of work?

And do you know how much his work and philosophy has influenced other world leaders including some of today's leaders? Are you aware that Chief Mungosutho Buthelezi's grandson is named Kwame Nkrumah in honour of, and recognition of his stature?

Please let's try to be objective at all times and my admonition to all of us, please read and study everyone of our leaders and others around the world if you wish to enrich your own standing in African and World Affairs.
KKO 10 years ago

Paul,
You may not like my opinion of Kwame Nkrumah's legacy, but I have worked in a number of the institutions he set up, including the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, and I know what is happening at most of them. Have you e ...
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Paul,
You may not like my opinion of Kwame Nkrumah's legacy, but I have worked in a number of the institutions he set up, including the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, and I know what is happening at most of them. Have you ever thought about why Jerry Rawlings, a Young Pioneer (advised by PV Obeng) sold off the rest of his industries Nkrumah established?

Interestingly, when Jerry Rawlings said "the only thing Kwame Nkrumah bequeathed to Ghana was a flag and a National Anthem," Nkrumaists were dead silent.

What does anyone make of the fact that Kwame Nkrumah's CPP party has just ONE MP in Ghana's parliament?

I have read enough biographies of present and past world leaders to know that the policies and programmes of those who unified their countries are still very relevant in their national affairs!

Kofi 10 years ago

Did your work at the Energy Commission yield any credible results?NO.You were probably a messenger.

Did your work at the Energy Commission yield any credible results?NO.You were probably a messenger.
Kwadwo 10 years ago

When ever you resort to justify ones conduct by citing the conduct of others, it means you have lost the argument. I live in America and it only the extreme right wingers who attempt to justify the transgressions of this coun ...
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When ever you resort to justify ones conduct by citing the conduct of others, it means you have lost the argument. I live in America and it only the extreme right wingers who attempt to justify the transgressions of this country. The Courts, civil right proponents, ordinary citizens and the legislature always agitate for change and it happens. Please never use the wrong of America to excuse Nkrumahi's due process violations and dictatorial policies.
Have you noticed from the comments that even ardent Nkrumaist have abandoned you on what you sought to do? Imprisoning others without trial constitutes a flagrant violation of due process and this should never be tolerated. And please I don't need to read Nkrumah's before I can hold such I view. I have had enough school and professional experience to think for myself.
Paul 10 years ago

When you worked at Atomic, I doubt that you were working in the institution as it was originally set up. Are you aware that most of the scientists working there at the time of the 1966 Coup that toppled Nkrumah were either ki ...
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When you worked at Atomic, I doubt that you were working in the institution as it was originally set up. Are you aware that most of the scientists working there at the time of the 1966 Coup that toppled Nkrumah were either killed, detained or forced to flee the country? And do you know what the CIA did at places like that?

By the way if any institutions set up are not working, it is not because of Nkrumah or whoever set up but those who are supposed to be running them.

One of our biggest challenges has been that of capacity building. t the time of his overthrow, Ghana was sponsoring over 1,000 in US, another 1,000 in Western Europe, not to talk of those Ghanaians studying in USSR and the East in general. These were supposed to come back and support the new industrialization programme of the country but alas, they all 'scattered'.

I repeat, let's try and look at all aspects of our history and when you put it all together, it begin to form a picture wherein lie our problems.
Dr. SAS, Criminal Defense Attorney 10 years ago

You are so stupid!!!

Debate the issues and stop rambling like an idiot.

Confess that PDA was wrong, that life presidency was wrong, that dismissal of judges was wrong, that betraying friends who helped you was wrong, t ...
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You are so stupid!!!

Debate the issues and stop rambling like an idiot.

Confess that PDA was wrong, that life presidency was wrong, that dismissal of judges was wrong, that betraying friends who helped you was wrong, that indoctrinating children to snitch on their parents was wrong, that putting you effigy on a currency was wrong, that destooling chiefs and appropriating their titles was wrong.....

Confess all Nkrumah's evil deeds here, or else make a fool of yourself by defending them. We want to see how far down you can go in swallowing a bloody dictator's phlegm and calling it ice cream.
Bonsu 10 years ago

Paul if I were you I will ignore an idiot like SAS because you are too much of a gentleman to take him on.Whilst he keeps using insulting words and language at you,you keep on trying to reason with him but because of his stup ...
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Paul if I were you I will ignore an idiot like SAS because you are too much of a gentleman to take him on.Whilst he keeps using insulting words and language at you,you keep on trying to reason with him but because of his stupid mindset he keeps troding the path of the vulgar buffoon.

In a debate when one resorts to extreme statements as a mantra like he is doing then you should know that this is not a reasonable person to debate with.When asked why he is not calling the western leaders dictators because they have the detention acts in their statutory books his answer has always been that two wrongs don't make a right but he fails to understand why it may be necessary at times.

If it is an act of the west it is fine with him but not when it is against home brew terrorist from his clan.What an an imbecile.
Dr. SAS, Criminal Defense Attorney 10 years ago

You state:

"..he fails to understand why it may be necessary at times".

I will never understand why it may be necessary to incarcerate people without trial even if it happened in heaven.

And that is my whole point. I ...
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You state:

"..he fails to understand why it may be necessary at times".

I will never understand why it may be necessary to incarcerate people without trial even if it happened in heaven.

And that is my whole point. In my head, there is no room for the justification of pure evil, as the Nkrumaists try to do. If western leaders have something akin to the PDA in their statutes, they will be dictators as well.

So I conclude that Nkrumah was a dictator copying other western dictators.
Bonsu 10 years ago

If you don't know that there is an exception to every rule and this is your dogmatic approach to matters which require a more reasonable approach, then you are indeed a fake doctor like you are.The more reasonable approach i ...
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If you don't know that there is an exception to every rule and this is your dogmatic approach to matters which require a more reasonable approach, then you are indeed a fake doctor like you are.The more reasonable approach is a balance analysis and an informed value then you will be making sense.But if you assume that if some was arrested and and in your opinion you think it is wrong then that is it.Nothing more nothing less like you are stupidly doing.Youa are indeed a fake Doctor.
OGYA 10 years ago

He is a conceited man.Either you agree with him or you are stupid.

He is a conceited man.Either you agree with him or you are stupid.
KKO 10 years ago

No, No, no! Who told you most of the people who worked at the GAEC before the coup of 1966 were killed during the coup? All the original scientists that were trained in Russia were there when I went there in 1973.

Rev Prof ...
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No, No, no! Who told you most of the people who worked at the GAEC before the coup of 1966 were killed during the coup? All the original scientists that were trained in Russia were there when I went there in 1973.

Rev Prof BW Garbrah (Nuclear Physics) is now a retired minister of the Methodist Church Ghana. He left as Officer in Charge in those days, to be a minister of the gospel. Dr Ocran (Radiologist) went to Korle Bu, and later University of Maryland Hospital, Baltimore, Mr Brown (Nuclear Chemistry)who led the Chemistry group died around 1983 or 84. Some went to lecture at various departments at Legon.

Dr Ahafia lectured in Nuclear Physics at UST and retired there, and so were Dr Tay (Particle/Classical Physics ) and Dr Ntiforo(Biological/Quantum Physics). I met all of them and several of them were my lecturers! Prof Allotey taught me Mathematical Physics too and fortunately, he is still alive!

In 1973 you had to obtain a special permission to go beyond the gate. Why is the place now right in the middle of a major residential area? All the crude Russian scintilllation counters that never worked were still around like museum pieces.

What exactly did the CIA do there?
Dr. SAS, Criminal Defense Attorney 10 years ago

If you ask me, those subconscious Nkrumaists have never told one iota of truth in their entire life. Here is someone who was right there to debunk a dangerous rumor making the rounds of the Nkrumaists. Now Doc, are you going ...
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If you ask me, those subconscious Nkrumaists have never told one iota of truth in their entire life. Here is someone who was right there to debunk a dangerous rumor making the rounds of the Nkrumaists. Now Doc, are you going to come back to challenge this revelation or you are now going into hiding?

Paul 10 years ago

I said most of the scientists were ether killed, detained or fled the country. Please check the reords and tell me what happened to Soviet and Chinese scientists who were working at GAEC. When did you work at GAEC and how muc ...
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I said most of the scientists were ether killed, detained or fled the country. Please check the reords and tell me what happened to Soviet and Chinese scientists who were working at GAEC. When did you work at GAEC and how much do you know of the history? Mind you I also know people (including classmates of mine) who either worked at or are still working at GAEC.
Dr. SAS, Criminal Defense Attorney 10 years ago

By the rules, it is now your burden to disprove what KKO has said by citing reliable sources.

Let me remind you of your claim that the scientists were either killed or detained or fled the country.

KKO now launches a r ...
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By the rules, it is now your burden to disprove what KKO has said by citing reliable sources.

Let me remind you of your claim that the scientists were either killed or detained or fled the country.

KKO now launches a rebuttal to that claim by stating that he was there in 1973 and met some of these scientists you claim were imprisoned, detained or fled the country.

You now have to cite unimpeachable and superior sources to back up your original claim. KKO has sufficiently discharged his burden by saying, "I was there and saw these very people you claim were killed" or at least he implies, "I never heard of any killings or detentions or fleeing".

His is an eye witness account that can only be rebutted by a clear and convincing evidence, not by hearsay.

Now tell me how you are going to proceed?
Dr. SAS, Criminal Defense Attorney 10 years ago

You should articulate those "good points" which you agree with for future reference, so that we can assume them aptly stipulated and move on....

But do you understand the word "legacy"? If you do, you will not construe it ...
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You should articulate those "good points" which you agree with for future reference, so that we can assume them aptly stipulated and move on....

But do you understand the word "legacy"? If you do, you will not construe it in terms of football and statues or naming. For Nkrumah, his legacy could only be construed in terms of his leadership philosophy, and nothing else, since he cast himself as a great leader.

Nkrumah's legacy cannot be assessed in his infrastructure which, as somebody posited, lasted thirty years. So infrastructurally speaking. Nkrumah's legacy was, and is, ephemeral...all of which makes the idea that he has any legacy oxymoronic because a legacy should be perennial.

Nkrumah's legacy should be quantified in terms of his leadership and philosophical writings. Construed in this term, nothing in his actions and writings remains relevant within the democratic dispensation, and this is evident in the virtual demise of the CPP as a party of little standing and little people.
Lexus 10 years ago

" First of all, to go to the patient with a BP of 210/120.............The question is, which doctor examined Danquah and found his BP to be so high........ We understand from the excerpts of his own letter that his wife had v ...
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" First of all, to go to the patient with a BP of 210/120.............The question is, which doctor examined Danquah and found his BP to be so high........ We understand from the excerpts of his own letter that his wife had visited and they had had a "serious argument" about his "apparent refusal to tone down his rhetoric in order to be released from detention as others had been released". If that is true, don't you think that true to his character, Danquah himself must have allowed his 'stubbornness' to get in the way?.. So how are we to know the facts of the case and the clinical state of the 'patient' if indeed we choose to characterize him as such? In trying to be critical, we also need to be objective in assessing the circumstances of Danquah, a situation which the president might not even have a had first hand knowledge of. We are told Nkrumah "wept" when he was told about Danquah's death."....

Paul, you have stooped so low that even Saul would not touch you with a thousand-foot pole.
The condemned JBD is recorded to have had a BP of 220/120 and was described as being 'delirious' He was also known to have had some co-morbidities. I am sadly surprised, that as an MD, the first and actually the only thing you attempt to blame his medical condition, as stated above, on is some 'argument' with his wife? SUCH A CARDINAL SIN IN MEDICINE!!!
I am very disappointed you did not blame it on his 'use of recreational drugs'....cocaine, LSD, PCP,'Speed' etc, as you Nkrumahist sycophants are wont to accuse your opponents of.
The poor guy probably passed on due to some severe hemorrhagic stroke [from a ruptured aneurysm] God knows how soon after the KGB 'doctor's' visit JBD gave up the Ghost.
What about the theory that JBD got some cocktail injection from the KGB wank.
About Nkrumah 'weeping' upon being notified of JBD's demise: P-L-E-A-S-E!
King David 'lamented' over Uriah's death. Legend also has it that Kwame 'John Boehner' Nkrumah always wept when he was having orgasm. Therefore, spare us that nonsense, Paul.
How can such a fine mind of yours be so jaundiced by such paranoia and hate.

PS: Point of correction. Maurice Bishop was some Progressive leader of Grenada that Reagan savagely ousted
Paul 10 years ago

pelicles, Nkrumah first wrote Africa Must Unite whilst still in power in 1963. Please check the records.

To your question, Nkrumah's efforts to unite Africa could never be achieved alone. Apart from the fact that large par ...
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pelicles, Nkrumah first wrote Africa Must Unite whilst still in power in 1963. Please check the records.

To your question, Nkrumah's efforts to unite Africa could never be achieved alone. Apart from the fact that large parts of the continent were still under colonial rule, and controlled by different external interests e.g. the French, Portuguese, British, even Italians and of course apartheid S. Africa, meant a huge struggle. There were also the Monrovia and Casablanca blocs which factions had been created by the external interests to discredit one side whilst supporting the other to basically 'divide and rule'.

As to the North and the Arab states, Nkrumah was perhaps the only sub-Saharan African leader at the time whop could bring all these groups together under one roof, and they did so because they could see his genuine interest in African unity.

The 'bailing out' of Guinea and Mali at a time of their worst national crises e.g. after the French physically removed and destroyed structures including school block windows when Guinea forced for their independence, was no different from today's massive bail outs we are seeing in Europe (e.g. Greece, Spain, Portugal etc) and the US. We may even argue that that principle and philosophy is now being applied and was used to stop the great depression in Europe and the world after the massive 'corruptive mess' of the sub-prime which contributed to the global economic crises that we are still not yet recovered.

Yes in exile, he had a lot of reflection and wrote a lot, but his philosophy and beliefs about Africa and our economic development and full emancipation NEVER changed.
Aryeetey 10 years ago

Pelicles, for your correction,
(1)Prez Nkrumah wrote the Africa unity book whilst he was still Prez in Ghana, but never in exile. (2)You have answered your own question by mentioning the Ghana-Guinea-Mali alliance. Prez Nkru ...
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Pelicles, for your correction,
(1)Prez Nkrumah wrote the Africa unity book whilst he was still Prez in Ghana, but never in exile. (2)You have answered your own question by mentioning the Ghana-Guinea-Mali alliance. Prez Nkrumah Ghana-Guinea-Mali unity was the EMBRYO of the African Unity.
Prof Lungu 10 years ago

Ghanaians can agree to disagree!

But Ghanaians cannot/should not differ on the unitary! But, this is not to say the Regions and Districts as currently constituted and funded have enough resources to develop, compared to Ac ...
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Ghanaians can agree to disagree!

But Ghanaians cannot/should not differ on the unitary! But, this is not to say the Regions and Districts as currently constituted and funded have enough resources to develop, compared to Accra-Tema. But even here, the NPP did absolutely zilch, when they were last at the helm!

Where are the Mature NPP folks?
RINGO 10 years ago

Thank you,Paul! I hope Nkrumah's critics will take a deep breath and go back to do more research about the great NKRUMAH.

Thank you,Paul! I hope Nkrumah's critics will take a deep breath and go back to do more research about the great NKRUMAH.
Commonsense 10 years ago

Paul, you met Nkrumah and so what? The fact is Nkrumah was oower hungry and as communist, he employed all the communist tactics like Stalin, Castro, and the others did against his political opponents. Nkrumah went even furthe ...
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Paul, you met Nkrumah and so what? The fact is Nkrumah was oower hungry and as communist, he employed all the communist tactics like Stalin, Castro, and the others did against his political opponents. Nkrumah went even further to destooled chiefs who did not agreed with him. As humans, we all will not agree on one ideology and everybody knows that. So why would Nkrumah, because he was in a hurry, kill his political opponents, form a one-party state, and declare himsely life president? Was Ghana his personal property? Ashanti had a Special Position in the constitution but Nkrumah never abide by that constitution and partitioned Ashanti. Ivory Coast never had Nkrumah yet their then president developd that country much better than ours. So Nkrumah was not a messiah but a power hungry didtator and tyrant
Paul 10 years ago

You should have read the article properly. Would you say that Ashanti should have a "special Position" in the Ghana constitution? Interesting indeed.

You should have read the article properly. Would you say that Ashanti should have a "special Position" in the Ghana constitution? Interesting indeed.
Abeeku Mensah 10 years ago

There is no amount of books by Nkrumah and or Danquah that will convince diehard fanatics, zealots and ideologues on either side. Learning from past mistakes may help avoid those pitfalls that brought on acrimony between the ...
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There is no amount of books by Nkrumah and or Danquah that will convince diehard fanatics, zealots and ideologues on either side. Learning from past mistakes may help avoid those pitfalls that brought on acrimony between the UP/UGCC and the CPP of old. We have not yet arrived at a place of truth and balance in Ghana because we continue to hear one lie after another as we embrace terrorism as a norm in Ghana and or in Africa while we adore lives and the living in civilized western nations who have used all means to quash acts of terrorism on their lands All the people who paraded to offer speeches at Danquah @50 celebration have been privy to living abroad and yet choose to feed on the ignorance of their audience to feed them with the lies of the past. Would anyone doubt that all those speakers are aware of detentions without trial that has been going on in Europe and the USA? So while we admire the do no wrong attitudes of our colonial masters and former slave traders we shamelessly scorn the very laws Nkrumah used to minimize acts of terror in Ghana. Yes Nkrumah was ahead of his peers and history proves him right on the use of PDA.
Dr. SAS, Attorney at Law 10 years ago

Have you ever said one intelligent thing in your entire life??
How has history proven Nkrumah right in his use of the PDA when it separated the man and his kingdom and has become an anathema in the present democratic dispens ...
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Have you ever said one intelligent thing in your entire life??
How has history proven Nkrumah right in his use of the PDA when it separated the man and his kingdom and has become an anathema in the present democratic dispensation?
And what past mistake are we supposed to learn from if not from the evil PDA?
Bonsu 10 years ago

You are indeed a sterile pedant because of your bizarre sense of comprehension.Abeeku Menesah is telling you that one of the ways to contain a terrorist is by a detention law which is comprehensively used by the western world ...
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You are indeed a sterile pedant because of your bizarre sense of comprehension.Abeeku Menesah is telling you that one of the ways to contain a terrorist is by a detention law which is comprehensively used by the western world to contain terrorist and JB Daquah is no exception.Look at the UK terrorism Act 2006 and detention of terror suspects.Aso look at section 2001 which allows detention without trial or charge which went through the House of commons.It has presently been diluted with a time limitation after it had solved the underlying problems.

Also see the case of the Radical cleric Abu Qatada who was detained without trial for a long time before been sent for trial in Jordan and numerous other instances.

The SAS man who is an apologist of the white man and anti African will see nothing wrong with these detention acts from the white man because of his stupid mindset.Answer Abeeku concerns and stop hiding behind a mantra of brutal dictatorship if it is an African or Ghanaian law to contain terrorism but okay when used by the white man for the same reasons.
DOYEN 10 years ago

“Mahoney book titled JFK: The Africa Ordea l… is much misquoted because many of those who claim to be quoting from this quite notable and scholarly American politician and the son of a late former diplomat, and former U.S ...
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“Mahoney book titled JFK: The Africa Ordea l… is much misquoted because many of those who claim to be quoting from this quite notable and scholarly American politician and the son of a late former diplomat, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, are often quoting from hearsay.”

This is what Professor Mahoney wrote in his book (pages 184 - 185):

"The matter concerned Dr. J.B. Danquah, Nkrumah's opponent in presidential elections of 1960, who was released from prison a few months after Mahoney's arrival as ambassador. Danquah paid a visit one November day to the embassy to ask Mahoney why the funds his family had been receiving during his imprisonment had been cut off after his release. This was the first time that Mahoney had heard of the arrangement. After Danquah left, he summoned the CIA chief of station to ask why he had not been advised of the agency's association with Danquah. Dissatisfied with the explanation, Mahoney flew to Washington two days later and personally informed Kennedy about the matter.

The President reacted sharply to the news and told Mahoney that he had sent a letter to all ambassadors in May 1961 making it clear that their authority extended to all phases of embassy decision making. Kennedy then telephoned CIA Director John McCone and told him that he was sending Mahoney over to CIA headquarters and wanted the matter resolved immediately. The understanding that emerged from the meeting at Langley was that 'no undertakings of any kind, even remotely involving our situation in Ghana, would either be continued or launched without the ambassador's knowledge and approval'"(Ref 149).

Ref 149: "This account is drawn from OHWPM [Oral history of William P. Mahoney], JFKL [John F. Kennedy Library] and William P. Mahoney Jr. to the author, July 21, 1977.
True African 10 years ago

I hope the band of biased,Nkrumah- haters Sarpong,Ahoofe,Mahmoud,Pelicles,Kwadwoetc who are impervious to REASON now know why J. B. Danquah was detained.J.B.Danquah who was on CIA payroll with the purpose of assassinating Nkr ...
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I hope the band of biased,Nkrumah- haters Sarpong,Ahoofe,Mahmoud,Pelicles,Kwadwoetc who are impervious to REASON now know why J. B. Danquah was detained.J.B.Danquah who was on CIA payroll with the purpose of assassinating Nkrumah and overthrowing the Ghana Government, would have disappeared under J.J. Rawlings.Nkrumah was so kind.
RINGO 10 years ago

Misinformed and biased SARPONG,I hope you are reading.You have consistently stated that there are no CIA declassified documents to prove the evil machination of J.B.Danquah etc.You and your followers have to bown down your h ...
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Misinformed and biased SARPONG,I hope you are reading.You have consistently stated that there are no CIA declassified documents to prove the evil machination of J.B.Danquah etc.You and your followers have to bown down your heads in shame and change your bizarre mindset.
Kofi 10 years ago

Nobody buys their bullshit.

Nobody buys their bullshit.
Kwadwo 10 years ago

Thankfully, I had a private scholarship and left Ghana for the US before the second coming of Rawlings, the butcher. He killed friends of mine and if I had gone to Legon, I may also have been killed because I would have said ...
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Thankfully, I had a private scholarship and left Ghana for the US before the second coming of Rawlings, the butcher. He killed friends of mine and if I had gone to Legon, I may also have been killed because I would have said something unpalatable to Rawlings and his posse. Major Ochere Boateng was one of my friends Rawlings executed. Incidentally, are you aware that Major Ochere was the only one who ever slapped Rawlings in his life like a bitch after his failed Coup in 1979? That why he hunted and Killed Major Ochere following his 1983 coup. We are no cowards, buddy and I may have been killed if I had pursued my post secondary education in Ghana.
BRAINS 10 years ago

SAS, have your brains inside your head. It is apparent you are not teahable, once your mind is made up, the world can go blazes if it is not hurting you.

SAS, have your brains inside your head. It is apparent you are not teahable, once your mind is made up, the world can go blazes if it is not hurting you.
Umar Najeeb 10 years ago

Thank you for you post Mr. Paul. Again, this is very thought provoking and
stimulating in the direction on how directives are governed with the interest of people coming fore-mostly first whilst integrating
interests acro ...
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Thank you for you post Mr. Paul. Again, this is very thought provoking and
stimulating in the direction on how directives are governed with the interest of people coming fore-mostly first whilst integrating
interests across different views on the spectrum within a fair and just framework. Being an outsider and non-Ghanian, these discussions are very useful and provide motivation to wanting to help people from my grand-father's ethnic background as we also have alot of division and human-values degraded based on tribal divisions. It reinforces
the point about human value regardless of difference of opinion along any line be it racial, cast, tribe, religion, etc.

I find from observations the traits and characteristics of any 'good'leadership role usually tend to possess one unifying common factor. This
is the governance of mans affairs for their interest and hence,
a leader becoming a slave to its people with an objective to serve the people's interest in accordance to right and wrong to maintain peace and prosperity for all. In other words ensuring rights across the spectrum of groups of population to harmonize difference
via a system that is regulated justly for the people. Again, this reinforces the point of having integrity and being open (without emotions or bias) which will be in the interest
of society and mankind at large to foster this collaborative spirit for generations to come.

As humans everyone will make mistakes and no one ever intends to
make mistakes. As humans, there is always a learning curve for development and no one can ever say they are the finished article and we can only try and make those efforts to unite nations and tribes to steer countries in the right direction.

As most developing nations, it is always easy for opposition party's to reach a state of selfish decline to oppose but never propose for constructive developments which can be fruitful
for everyone. These low hanging fruits can be grasped by all at an individual level which in turn has economical implications on key drivers to enhance quality of life. In the interest of nations, collaborative spirit and responsibility is needed
to enable constructive progress and development regardless of creed, religion or race i pray.

This leads me onto the point regarding tribes and the mechanics this fosters
in society to continue separation amongst the very same people in order
to maintain heriachial structure and dependency which is driven from the ground to the international forum.

Harnessing an environment of inclusion and diversity in right manner where ideas are exchanged
is very healthy. Going back to my grand-father's country, this is a major
challenge due to divisions along these lines that have been imported to keep
a grip of nations - a good example is the Afghani people, when they are not at
war with outsiders they are at war with one another due the mind-set they have
which, is personal ambitions led by their own whim and desires. If the tribal leaders were to step out this mind-set to really observe what is happening I am sure reason and logic would tell them how this is burdening their development as a nation to participate on the international stage for progress, peace and prosperity.

Love of human life, understanding of human deprivation and social needs is what is needed in most parts of the world. The more we can discuss excluding personal desires the more likely we can all make progress in our retrospective countries.

Peace Out!

Umar

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Kwame Nkrumah and Bringing Unity to Ghana Part Two

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