Ghana’s Parliament has marked the 59th anniversary of the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, the first Prime Minister and President of Ghana.
The event which took place on February 24, 1966, ended Nkrumah’s socialist-oriented administration and ushering in an era of military rule.
The military coup d’état had leaders like army officers Colonel E.K. Kotoka, Major A. A. Afrifa, Lieutenant General (retired) J. A. Ankrah, and Police Inspector General J.W.K.
A statement presented by the MP for Ho Central, Richmond Kofi Edem Kpotoso, paid tribute to Dr Nkrumah, highlighting his transformative vision for Ghana’s development and industrialisation.
He reflected on the significance of the coup, calling it “a deliberate and orchestrated attack on the sovereignty, vision and progress of our country”.
“Dr Kwame Nkrumah was not just a Ghanaian leader, he was an African visionary, and a global stateman, and a relentless advocate for the independence and sovereignty of the African continent from the yoke of colonialism. His leadership saw Ghana take its place as the first Sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence, inspiring a wave of liberation movements across the continent. His vision for economic independence, the creation of state industries, and a dream of a United States of Africa, threatened powerful global interests leading to external interference in our affairs,” he underlined.
MP for Kwadaso, Kingsley Nyarko said the contributions made by Dr Kwame Nkrumah in the history of Ghana and the continent of Africa could not be denied.
He, however, emphasised Dr Nkrumah was successful due to the assistance of certain individuals in the struggle for independence and self-governance and such individuals had to be credited as well.
“Nobody in this country or on this continent can wish away the contributions of Kwame Nkrumah of blessed memory. He did contribute his quota to the advancement of this country. Kwame Nkrumah rode on the back of individuals who saw that he could be an asset to the country. There were individuals who brought Kwame Nkrumah to the Gold Coast. As intellectuals and Members of Parliament, we don’t have to belittle others in our quest to promote others,” he said.
Dr Mutala Mohammed, Tamale Central MP and the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, asserted the overthrow of the “democratically elected President of the Republic of Ghana” Dr Nkrumah was “criminal” and “unjustifiable”.
“People cannot be absolutely satisfied by any leader. The immediate past government, people were not satisfied by certain decisions and, of course, even this government, people may not be satisfied with certain decisions taken. But that is not a licence to torpedo, truncate the democratic processes,” he posited.
“What is grievous about the criminal overthrow of Nkrumah is the fact that people allowed people outside this country to influence them. And there are ample evidences conclusively stating without any doubt that the overthrow of Nkrumah was not planned in Ghana. It was planned by the people who felt we needed to still come to them bowl in hand so that they can dictate to us how this country [should be] governed. Nkrumah said he won’t do that,” he bemoaned.
