Kwame Nkrumah and Nationalism

Introduction

Foreign leadership in Africa that is termed as colonialism was characterized by high level of oppression. Ghana faced extreme exploitation from the British government that was its colonizer. Africans in the Gold Coast (Ghana) began to demand for freedom for several years without success due to lack of effective political organization (Jones, 1976). Before the arrival of Kwame Nkrumah, the United Gold Coast Convention lacked any strong strategies that could help bring about nationalism. It is after Nkumah’s arrival that strategies were developed that were seen to drive Ghana to independence. One question that people might ask themselves is whether Nkrumah was the main contributor to Ghana’s attainment of political independence (Jones, 1976).

The purpose of this paper is to analyze Nkrumah’s participation in the struggle towards independence in Ghana, and to state whether or not he was the main contributor of attainment of nationalism in the country. The paper begins by highlighting Nkrumah’s nationalist agenda when he joined the United Gold Coast Convention. This is followed by a section analyzing how Kwame continued with his nationalism mission even after the formation of Convention People’s Party. The paper also describes the events of the Positive Action Towards Nationalism in Ghana. It then ends n a conclusion stating Nkrumah’s contribution towards political independence in Ghana.

Nationalist Agenda of Kwame Nkrumah

Kwame Nkrumah was against colonialism and fought to dissect it in order to bring about freedom in Africa. Kwame had fought for freedom from the colonial yoke, even before he could become the Secretary General of the United Gold Coast Convention (Boahen, 1965). Following his attainment of office as the Secretary General, he decided to devise strategies that could drive Africa towards freedom. This, he did by implementing political policies and applying his organizing skills that he had earlier acquired in Britain and the United States of America.

Kwame Nkrumah had leadership qualities that helped him to drive and succeed in fulfilling his nationalist agenda. These qualities distinguished him from his predecessors. According to Nkrumah (1962), Kwame Nkrumah had a clear vision, a comprehensive knowledge of the weaknesses and strengths of the enemy, knowledge of the society’s belief system, and knowledge of the fighting spirit of the enemy. In addition, Kwame possessed effective organizational skills, communication and human relations skills, had determination, perseverance and persistency (Boahen, 1965).

Upon becoming the Secretary General of the United Gold Coast Convention, Kwame took a political action that strategically targeted three agendas. The first measure devised was formulation of a policy towards attainment of complete political freedom and utter liberty from the control of any foreign government. Secondly, Kwame pushed for achievement of egalitarian freedom from political tyranny. Thirdly, he devised a strategy that focused on social transformation process. This includes improvement of the economic and social conditions of the people, freedom from economic exploitation and poverty (Ageyman, 1992).

Kwame recognized that these three agendas could only be realized if the United Gold Coast Convention was made to reflect their significance. In this respect, he decided to change the constitution of the United Gold Coast Convention, by urging the Convention to develop a policy with defined and clear objectives (Boahen, 1965). Kwame began to gain popularity due to his fight towards nationalism and political freedom, his tour across Ghana as he spoke his wishes to the country, and his positive dreams and aspirations for the underprivileged in the society. Some members of the United Gold Coast Convention were however against Nkrumah’s agenda, resulting into the birth of the Convention People’s Party (Nkrumah, 1962).

The Convention People’s Party: Self-Government and Nationalism in Ghana

The differences between Nkrumah and the United Gold Coast Convention committee intensified in 1949. This led to the removal of Kwame from office as the Secretary General in the same year. Immediately after his execution from office, Kwame formed the Convention People’s Party in order to continue with his nationalist agenda (Nkrumah, 1962). The United Gold Coast Convention committee severally attempted to discredit Nkrumah with no success. Nkrumah developed a six point program of action of the party. The first program of action was to fight inexorably to realize and uphold independence for the people of Ghana and their chiefs (Ageyman, 1992).

Second, the party planned to act as the political body that can remove all forms of tyranny and for the creation of a democratic government. Third, the party aimed at securing and maintaining total unity of all communities in Ghana. Fourth, the party was interested in working with and in the interest of all other political organizations, the Trade Union Movement, and with the constitution and the standing order of the party. The party’s fifth program was to work as fast as possible towards construction of a better Ghana in which the people could govern themselves. Lastly, the party planned to improve the economic, social and political lives of the people of Ghana (Ageyman, 1992)

The Convention People’s Party was the first party in Ghana that had an objective of acquiring political independence. This party demonstrated togetherness and national unity by incorporating all the ethnic groups in the country including people from different class character. The membership consisted of several categories of people including farmers, school leavers, petty traders, kings, laborers, and victims of oppression, both males and females. The main objective of all the members was to fight totalitarianism, colonialism and the draconian policies of the powerful kings in Ghana (Nkrumah, 1962).

Positive Action Towards Nationalism in Ghana

Two strategies were developed by Nkrumah to help fight colonialism in Ghana. Kwame believed that the use of legitimate and constitutional methods could work for him. He also thought that violent overthrow of colonialism and armed revolution could help drive away the foreigners. His non-harmful weapons included lawful political protest, educational campaigns and newspapers (Boahen, 1965). Examples of lawful agitations included application of non-co-operation based on the principles of utter non-violence, strikes and boycotts. Kwame proclaimed the Positive Action to begin on mid-night of 8th January 1950 when national strike was expected to take place. The colonial government attempted to restore order by announcing a curfew on 11th January 1950. All the leaders of the Convention People’s Party were later arrested on 22nd January 1950 including Kwame Nkrumah. This move did not kill the people’s drive for independence under Kwame’s headship (Nkrumah, 1962).

Even though the Positive Action never succeeded in bringing down the colonial government, it jolted its foundation to an extent that it never recovered. These movements caused rivalry between Dr. Danquah from Britain and Kwame Nkrumah. Danquah was later linked with assassination attempts on Kwame’s life in the early 1960s, when Nkrumah faced detention on two different occasions. When Nkrumah came from prison, he strived to become a leader in the government in order to continue with his mission for freedom. In 1959, when a general election was conducted, the Convention People’s Party obtained victory, thereby representing the desire of the people in Ghana to become one independent nation (Nkrumah, 1962).

Conclusion

A big change in leadership was realized in the United Gold Coast Convention after Nkrumah’s arrival, and after his assumption of the position of the Secretary General. Following his departure from the United Gold Coast Convention, Kwame continued to exert strong demand for political independence when he formed the Convention People’s Party. His strong leadership skills, organizational skills and national stance contributed to his Positive Action, fourteen-month imprisonment, and the victory of the Convention People’s Party in 1959. It can therefore be concluded that Kwame Nkrumah was the main contributor to Ghana’s attainment of political independence.

References

Ageyman, O. (1992). Nkrumah’s Ghana and East Africa: Pan-Africanism and African Interstate Relations. London: Cranbury Associated Press.

Boahen, A. (1965). Topics in West Africa History. London: Longman

Jones, T. (1976). Ghana’s First Republic, 1960-1966: The Pursuit of the Political Kingdom. London: Methuen and Company L.t.d.

Nkrumah, K. (1962). Towards Colonial Freedom. London: The African Publication Society.

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