Region in West Africa Ghana, a region in west Africa which is considered a democratic country led by a president who serves as both the head of state and the government. In addition to its’ vast populating economic growth and distinguished political system are the contributing factors that have made Ghana strong. In the year of 1957, the flag was changed in representation of gaining its’ Independence from Britain; consisting of the colors red, gold, green, and a black star. After the Gold Coast adopted its’ name, this became Ghana’s permanent flag. The colors of the flag are significant to Ghana due to their symbolic meanings. The color red represents the blood that was sacrificed for freedom, the gold represents the exchanges of agricultural and industrial goods, the green represents its’ grasslands that sits upon different areas within the regions and lastly the black star representing the Ghanaian people and the emancipation.
The heart of Ghana solely sits upon the ideology of the concept of Pan-Africanism, which is a belief that all African people no matter their origins are connected by common history as well as destiny. Basically it was enforced and implemented to interlock the people of Africa differences through unity in social, economic and political structures. On March 6, 1957, Ghana became independent. It was one of the first of Britain’s African colonies to gain their independence by a majority of votes. This resulted in a great celebration in Accra, Ghana were they focused more primarily on world issues instead of solidary.Birth of A Leader: Kwame NkrumahKwame Nkrumah, being the only child of his mother was born in the year 1909, in a small village in Nkroful, Ghana near the Nzema area. He was raised in a single parent household by his mother and fellow relatives who lived nearby.
Kwame Nkrumah grew up were all his family are from poor socioeconomic backgrounds and education lacked. His mother sent him to the elementary school run by a Catholic mission at Half Assini, where he proved himself as a scholarly student. Although his father was not living with him, he worked in Half Assini as a goldsmith until his death. During his elementary education, young Kwame gained a great deal of knowledge and social influences from his mentor, a German Roman Catholic priest by the name of George Fischer.
Kwame was an insightful child who loved reading books and learning about social issues.The Power of KnowledgeFurthering his education, Kwame Nkrumah groomed himself to become an activist student who profoundly spent most of his time organizing groups with intricate African students who resided in Pennsylvania, while he attended Lincoln University. While directing the building blocks necessary for the purpose of the African Students Association of America, he strongly emphasized the need to make change happen. Meanwhile, some of the members expressed that the organization should emphasize on each colony’s need in order to gain its’ independence and wealth without outside help.
Kwame Nkrumah eventually became the first African head of state to promote the concept of Pan-Africanism strategy during his studies while attending Lincoln University, in Pennsylvania.However, Kwame Nkrumah spoke out on the importance of the infrastructure of the Pan- African movement and how it will be the key factor for this new transition. At the Pan-African conference in New York, 1944, Nkrumah insisted that the United States would make a promise that Africa will become more developed and allow freedom to reign upon the continent.
This concept was developed in order to encourage and strengthen bonds of isolation between all people of African descent, while operating as a worldwide non-violent movement. During Nkrumah’s promotion, he emerged in the teachings of a political power house by the name of Marcus Garvey who had become well-known for his ethnical movement, called “Back to Africa”. In addition to the influences of Marcus Garvey, Kwame leaned to the understandings and teachings from Ghandi. Most of Kwame’s political views and movements corresponded with the concept of non-violence; however, he believed that change does not have to happen by force.The Voice of Ghana Kwame Nkrumah aggressively urged to develop Ghana’s economy and make life better for the people. He argued that if Ghana could escape the colonial trade system, therefore by diminishing the dependence on foreign exchanges, technology and industrial goods then it could become independent. Kwame Nkrumah was very profound speaker who used the intellect of political recon structure in order to get things done. Kwame Nkrumah led the Gold Coast into freedom when Ghana gained its’ independence from Britain.
This was an outstanding historical mark for Ghana to become more developed and self-renowned. On March 6, 1957, Kwame demonstrated a great powerful voice in Ghana as he presented his freedom speech. The speech was very inspiring as it empowered strength as a source in order to take the corrective actions needed to make Ghana better. In the year of 1963, Kwame organized a group by the name of OAU with stood for “Organization of African Unity” which promoted the Pan-Africanism concept through their movement and cause.
Kwame Nkrumah passion for the rise of Ghana’s development grew stronger and he continued to indulge into the root of its’ country problems in order to make it better for all African people no matter of the origin. The Reign of Kwame Nkrumah The late Kwame Nkrumah’s leadership and goals for Ghana’s freedom were transpired from views of socialist policies and practices. Kwame Nkrumah developed a welfare system for the citizens as well as a vast of community and outreach programs and also the establishment of schools. Kwame Nkrumah will forever be remembered in Ghana as the “Osagyefo”, meaning “redeemer” in his native tongue, the Akan language. Kwame colonialism for Africa and the world was to make a difference using non-violent movements. Kwame Nkrumah’s vision was witnessed by Ghana when social issues and industrial infrastructure began to rise due to resolving and repairing the issues that was once neglected.
The Late Kwame Nkrumah Ghana lost a great leader on April 27, 1972 as he battled cancer in Bucharest, Romania. He is mourned by his beautiful wife, Fathia Nkrumah and children as well as a host of family and friends. Kwame Nkrumah left behind a great legacy as well as a sense of hope and integrity with the citizens of Ghana and a great road map for the future leaders following behind in his footprints. His monumental memorial park can be found in downtown Accra which is Ghana’s capital.
He will forever be remembered for his remarkable works, integrity, morals and the passion for uplifting All African People as one under one profound destiny. The collections of books that he authored/published illustrates his intellect and genius mindset. The nation of Ghana will strive to continue to keep the teachings and visions of the late Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and live in peace while abiding to non-violent movements as a strategy to keep moving forward with the Pan-Africanism concept. May the recolonization of All Blacks and Africans come together under one solid foundation in order to be that mighty fist to stand firm in unity and empowerment for all man-kind.Annotated BibliographyNkrumah, K.
(1963). Africa must unite: Kwame Nkrumah. London: Melbourne, Toronto.This source touches base on the colonialism of Africa and its’ development. I feel as if there were a vast of information that went into detailed on Africa’s suffrage as well as being rebuilt through the help of political and social reconstructive.Schwab, P. (2004).
Kwame Nkrumah: Ghana’s Nationalist Icon. Designing West Africa,99-115. doi:10.
1057/9781403978769_6This source I thought created a road map of Kwame Nkrumah’s visionary and purpose for Ghana. It pretty much focused on the events and achievements of Kwame Nkrumah and how he reconstructed Ghana’s political system as well as his role in the community for developing hope to the citizens of Ghana. The transition within the source discussed the time line of Kwame Nkrumah which I found to be very interesting.Sayeed, K. B.
, ; Nkrumah, K. (1959). The Autobiography of Kwame Nkrumah. International journal,14(4), 324. doi:10.2307/40198684The journal illustrated a time line on the events that Kwame Nkrumah achieved in his life span in an autobiography. Some of the information was repetitive which discussed an outline of early achievements and influencers of Kwame Nkrumah. Nkrumah, K.
(1967). Challenge of the Congo: Kwame Nkrumah. London: Nelson.
I did not think that this source was relevant to the approach that I wanted to go with this topic, however it discussed some challenges of social issues that may be derived from influential political structures. Pan-Africanism and African Unity. (n.d.). African Political Thought.
doi:10.1057/9781137062055.0008This source discussed the Pan-Africanism concept and strategy that corresponds to a non-violent movement in order to be used as a significant tactic to change political views and problems. From previous readings I learned that this concept was developed and widely used by Kwame Nkrumah during his promotional on his provision for Ghana’s recon structure. Nkrumah, K. (n.d.
). Independence Speech. The Ghana Reader,301-302.
doi:10.1215/9780822374961-061
