You drank too much of the Young Pioneer cool aid. Nkrumah was an egotistical dictator and had to be overthrown. My illiterate father cocoa farmer could not stand the dude. He simply had to go.
You drank too much of the Young Pioneer cool aid. Nkrumah was an egotistical dictator and had to be overthrown. My illiterate father cocoa farmer could not stand the dude. He simply had to go.
Kojo 10 years ago
Kwarteng on Young Pioneer propaganda? No. Kwarteng left UST in the early 90s or so. This means he was born after Nkrumah died in 1972 or shortly before that. Kwarteng has no first hand knowledge of the Ghana Young Pioneers or ... read full comment
Kwarteng on Young Pioneer propaganda? No. Kwarteng left UST in the early 90s or so. This means he was born after Nkrumah died in 1972 or shortly before that. Kwarteng has no first hand knowledge of the Ghana Young Pioneers or of Nkrumah himself. Anything he says on the subject is from what he has heard from others or, mostly, read from books.
Of course, he doesn't need to have seen Nkrumah to be able to write effectively about him. He can do his own research and come to good results. But that is Kwarteng's greatest weakness. His research is NOT original. It appears he has certain pre-conceived ideas about his subject and then searchs for information that supports that idea. So he reads books supporting the idea and avoids books that do not support his theses. If he reads a book against those ideas, he either does not include them in his write-up or condemns the opinions of those writers.
The end result is that, Kwarteng has the tendency to over-praise certain people (Nkrumah, Molefi, Lucky Dube, Bob Marley, etc) and completely underplay their shortcomings. You're never going to get any nuanced analysis of ANYBODY Kwarteng writes about. They are either completely black or completely white. A true original research often comes up with complex results - more than Kwarteng's over-use of secondary material that he quotes so copiously suggests.
Nii Armah 10 years ago
And you simply smoked too much of the capitalist weed which was given you by the western fascist that the man my Fisherman grandfather had to bring to power to help liberate the whole of Africa from western fascism was a dict ... read full comment
And you simply smoked too much of the capitalist weed which was given you by the western fascist that the man my Fisherman grandfather had to bring to power to help liberate the whole of Africa from western fascism was a dictator. I have nothing against capitalism because per my little management knowledge life is in stages. There is a time when you would have to close your doors to enable you fix yourself and open up for others to come in when you are ready to play. Today China is touted as the production hub of the world because they did that and have built a base that was what Nkrumah was doing. Now ask your self the mean of perestroika and see how it has helped the russians re emerge from their issues. yes there may still be problems but they are oK Now talk about the American and western capitalism and see what has become of it we now have what recessions after recessions killing people Obama is today trying to help grow back America but guess what the capitalist leprechauns would have none of it and would prefer he went to war so they made their profits before they give him what he wants and what do they call him a Communist. Today Europeans are standing at our doors with their capitalism and their EPA and the whole of Ghana is in Chaos because the average Ghanaian now to some extent even given their political and ideological leanings are seeing that Fascism is Fascism and would bite whether you believe in that ideology or not
Kojo Billy Duncan 10 years ago
Well written article. The meticulous research that preceded it is evident. The unfortunate thing is there are too many Ghanaians who refuse to read anything that is not related to religion. They are blissfully ignorant of the ... read full comment
Well written article. The meticulous research that preceded it is evident. The unfortunate thing is there are too many Ghanaians who refuse to read anything that is not related to religion. They are blissfully ignorant of their history and the political discourse of how we got to where we are today. Some of us who were Young Pioneers cherish the patriotism that was instilled in us. No true selfless patriot would ever dream of betraying his country. Those who betrayed Ghana have over the years had their comeuppance. The US, Britain and for that matter any country that has a sense of pride always treat their home-grown traitors with the criminal disdain they deserve.
FEFETI AFETSI 10 years ago
kwarteng it is EWES who got rid of Kwame Nkrumah and not BUsia.Wo y3 aboa pii.
kwarteng it is EWES who got rid of Kwame Nkrumah and not BUsia.Wo y3 aboa pii.
Kojo T 10 years ago
" My illiterate father cocoa farmer could not stand the dude " So what did he know about development. Nkrumah's concepts were too complex even for you , so how much more your pathetically illiterate father. he should have ju ... read full comment
" My illiterate father cocoa farmer could not stand the dude " So what did he know about development. Nkrumah's concepts were too complex even for you , so how much more your pathetically illiterate father. he should have just stuck to farming
JC 10 years ago
You are a liar! Eventually, it was Busia's " Dialogue with South Africa" which culminated in international diplomatic pressure, as well as boycotts, as even the US is today putting on Russia, that helped the freedom fighters ... read full comment
You are a liar! Eventually, it was Busia's " Dialogue with South Africa" which culminated in international diplomatic pressure, as well as boycotts, as even the US is today putting on Russia, that helped the freedom fighters to dislogde apartheid. Stop cooking up stories and foolish conclusions. Nkrumah unleashed terrorism on his own people, driving professionals out of the country and running the administration with illiterates and half literates. JB Dankwa was dead almost a year before Nkrumah was overthrown by the CIA. If, and I say if, the UP collaborated with the CIA to overthrow Nkrumah I don't see anything wrong with it, because Nkrumah and his collaborators, INCLUDING 'gaping sycophants', as his own Minister Kwaku Boateng later put it, had also unleashed terrorism on Ghanaians with the PDA, exclusion of the opposition from parliament, entrenched himself as monarch, and stifled freedom of speech - ALL ACTS OF TERRORISM. IF you were in the opposition would you condemn the CIA FOR OVERTHROWING HIM?
Gerald 10 years ago
Nkrumah studied in the US & USA and returned to Africa as the first and worst dictator as if he had never herd of democracy. He killed all political opponents in Nsawam Prison, declared himself a messiah and President for lif ... read full comment
Nkrumah studied in the US & USA and returned to Africa as the first and worst dictator as if he had never herd of democracy. He killed all political opponents in Nsawam Prison, declared himself a messiah and President for life without a Vice President and made Ghana one-party state.
Nkrumah poisoned the minds of kids to say 'Nkrumah never dies' 10x everyday and some of the old Young Pioneers are still saying this idiotic thing today. The best thing that has ever happened to Ghana was the overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah the insane despot.
Abeeku Mensah 10 years ago
Gerald, can you list any nation, especially Western democratic nation where minorities have fared better or on par with the majority? Can you explain the principles behind conservatism? Can you explain why a nation like the U ... read full comment
Gerald, can you list any nation, especially Western democratic nation where minorities have fared better or on par with the majority? Can you explain the principles behind conservatism? Can you explain why a nation like the USA where "inalienable rights" are cherished and yet blacks could be held in bondage for over 200 years? Can you explain why in the 2014 Americans are realizing that their inalienable rights are being curtailed by the very national government? Simply put when you have terrorists with the midst a responsible government must and should curtail liberties to provide public safety and security. Dummies in Ghana think being in the opposition means to oppose any and all things of the ruling government of the time including acts of bomb throwing. Show you have the capacity to think but not only act on your tribal and or political loyalties.
YAW 10 years ago
Gerald! if your brains were money,you will still be in debt.
Gerald! if your brains were money,you will still be in debt.
Kojo T 10 years ago
You use terms you understand not.
You use terms you understand not.
asonaba kofi 10 years ago
its so sad that Nkruma is so much respected around the globe yet despised by some ghanaians simply because they dont know the facts or the facts have been distorted by some for political reasons.i have learnt a lot out of thi ... read full comment
its so sad that Nkruma is so much respected around the globe yet despised by some ghanaians simply because they dont know the facts or the facts have been distorted by some for political reasons.i have learnt a lot out of this piece.thank you mr. writer.looking forward to the next one.
Kwame Adusei-Poku 10 years ago
Let all those immature and biased MATEMEHO children leave this forum with their non-factual criticisms about Nkrumah,the greatest African of all time.
Let all those immature and biased MATEMEHO children leave this forum with their non-factual criticisms about Nkrumah,the greatest African of all time.
Frank Appiah 10 years ago
Francis,continue to educate these IDIOTS who can't even read your numerous references and ascertain the FACTS you put across.
Francis,continue to educate these IDIOTS who can't even read your numerous references and ascertain the FACTS you put across.
Jonas Ababio 10 years ago
Let CARDINAL(JUSTICE SARPONG) and DR SAS whose writings are mostly based on hatred,assumption and hearsay take some lessons from this FACTUAL writer called Francis Kwarteng.Well done, Francis !
Let CARDINAL(JUSTICE SARPONG) and DR SAS whose writings are mostly based on hatred,assumption and hearsay take some lessons from this FACTUAL writer called Francis Kwarteng.Well done, Francis !
KKO 10 years ago
This is intellectual dishonesty at the hghest "Young Pioneer" level. It really insults the memories of Ghanaian patriots like Mensah Sarbah, Nana Kwamena Ansah, Kwaw Ebonyi (who financed Ghanaian lawyers) to go London to figh ... read full comment
This is intellectual dishonesty at the hghest "Young Pioneer" level. It really insults the memories of Ghanaian patriots like Mensah Sarbah, Nana Kwamena Ansah, Kwaw Ebonyi (who financed Ghanaian lawyers) to go London to fight against the Land Grant Law, Paa Grant and others.
Do you really believe that if JB Danquah who spent much of his early life fighting for the emancipation of the Ghanaian did not want independence for Ghana he would have supported bringing the stranded Kwame Nkrumah to back Ghana?
I am not Asante, but I spent part of my early years in Asante and I know that they are among the most justice-loving people on planet earth. They do not like to cheat, but they will not let you chat them or anybody else for that matter. That was the spirit with which they supported the early "Fante agitation for independence for Ghana."
That was the spirit behind Baffuor Akoto's resistance to oppression. That was the spirit behind the stringent Asante oppossition to their kit and kin Akyeampong! If Akyeampong had belonged to any other tribe but Asante, he would have got away with his Unigov nonesense.
Why do you think the West adore the axiom of "Pemanent interests and no permanent friends?" If we are that smart and resourceful, why can't we guard against our independence? Why are our governments so easily ooverthrown? Why does our sitting President for instance, go and stand in front of the CNN logo and ask to be photographed? We have really not come that far have we?
Distroting the history of Ghana to suit parochial interests does not paint a very intelligent picture of our so-called intelligentsia!!
KKO 10 years ago
"Opposition, distorting, cheat, overthrown..." Sorry about the typos!
"Opposition, distorting, cheat, overthrown..." Sorry about the typos!
Mama 10 years ago
We have a lot of idiots among us who will fall for everything, lies and propaganda. Why was Nkrumah brought to Ghana? Was it not because some citizens including Dr. Danquah have already began putting pressure on the Colonial ... read full comment
We have a lot of idiots among us who will fall for everything, lies and propaganda. Why was Nkrumah brought to Ghana? Was it not because some citizens including Dr. Danquah have already began putting pressure on the Colonial Masters for our independence? People should know that Nkrumah was a radical in the USA who did not even finish school and went to London to join another radical group and was also decreed there as a communist. He was recognized by his benefactors In Accra who bought him a ticket to come home and join them in the fight for independence because of his charisma. Nobody should say that he was overthrown by the UP party or what have you. Most of his own CCP members hated him because he was a dictator, most parents hated him because of what he had turned their kids into, Ghana was sinking at the time because of his desire to become the president of Africa. Why won't this Togolese fool tell people that his kin, KOTOKA masterminded the coup that toppled Nkrumah's regime because the army hated him at that time. We all know that it is election time and fools and haters of NPP are out in their millions ready to spill propaganda of doom that will not take Ghana anywhere. Look at us now after 57 years of independence because of people like you. I think all those who find their pen when they hear of NNP or Nana' name are all enemies of Ghana. They do not want to see Ghana prosper; for if they do, why will they not want to give a person who can govern the country better a chance in spite of their political affiliation. For the records, all those who hate Danquah so much should know that he and the BIG SIX started the fight before Nkrumah came on the scene. He helped established University of Ghana, and the Ofori Attahs of Kyebi helped established Achimota School. What is wrong with Dr. Danquah and his colleagues wanting the British to lay a better foundation for us before leaving the scene. That is what I called a man of wisdom. Because Nkrumah said Independence now does not mean he loved Ghana more than Danquah and the rest. The difference is that they were more matured and thought about the future of Ghana that will bring more prosperity to the future generation than the radical ideas of Nkrumah and his Varanda boys. Look at us now, we could not even maintain the infrastructure that the British left us, like the railway system, good schools, hospitals etc. and after 57 years we are worse off than we began. What a shame? Nkrumah thought he could rule Ghana and Africa with slogans, like, independence now, the black man can manage his own affairs, can we really?, Osagyefo, Nkrumah never dies etc; no, it does not work that way, for it takes, wisdom, smartness, wit, and actual love for country and fear of God to do the right thing for your country. I do not hate Nkurmah, because he tried but with the money that came to us after independence, Ghana should have been at par with the rest of the developed world if the money has been used properly instead of a dictator who was power and fame drunk.
Kojo T 10 years ago
Throwing bombs and creating may hem is democratic opposition and removing such miscreants from society so there can be peace is terrorism or dictatorship?
Throwing bombs and creating may hem is democratic opposition and removing such miscreants from society so there can be peace is terrorism or dictatorship?
KKO 10 years ago
That is also part of the intellectual dishonesty. Who were the people that were arrested and prosecuted for throwing the bombs, not Kwame Nkrumah's own people? Oh, sometimes one forgets that they actually used you the Togoles ... read full comment
That is also part of the intellectual dishonesty. Who were the people that were arrested and prosecuted for throwing the bombs, not Kwame Nkrumah's own people? Oh, sometimes one forgets that they actually used you the Togolese and Burkinabes for the dirty jobs, Mama Tula, Amartewee and the rest?
Wabee 10 years ago
This foolish writings wiil and can not covince us that Nkrumah was a good leader.Kwame Nkrumah and J.J. Rawlings names shall remain in Ghana history as the two murderass of our presidential history. Ask yourself why Nkrumah ... read full comment
This foolish writings wiil and can not covince us that Nkrumah was a good leader.Kwame Nkrumah and J.J. Rawlings names shall remain in Ghana history as the two murderass of our presidential history. Ask yourself why Nkrumah, he was loved by the people as claimed by you did not go to election to become president but deslear himself without the approval of the people.
dkny 10 years ago
Nkrumah was inherently an intellectual and not a revolutionary (granted, he drove the independence movement) so he did not adequately take care of the security side of things. Rawlings was a revolutionary and not an intellect ... read full comment
Nkrumah was inherently an intellectual and not a revolutionary (granted, he drove the independence movement) so he did not adequately take care of the security side of things. Rawlings was a revolutionary and not an intellectual, who survived CIA attempts to get rid of him (thanks in large part to the efforts of Capt Kojo Tsikata and others). Atta Mills was an intellectual and not a revolutionary...he probably did not take care of the security side of things.
Point: Nkrumah's biggest mistake to have inadequately catered for his security. If Nkrumah had been more careful, his political life may have survived.
francis kwarteng 10 years ago
Dear Readers,
Paragraph 17:
The sentence "This international acknowledgment is important to counter those revisionists who deny Mandela’s signal role in the decolonizing efforts in Southern Africa."
Should read: ... read full comment
Dear Readers,
Paragraph 17:
The sentence "This international acknowledgment is important to counter those revisionists who deny Mandela’s signal role in the decolonizing efforts in Southern Africa."
Should read:
"This international acknowledgment is important to counter those revisionists who deny NKRUMAH’s [NOT MANDELA'S] signal role in the decolonizing efforts in Southern Africa."
Thanks.
Seth Mifetu. 10 years ago
Kwame Nkrumah have been on the debate table in the Universities from the past decades and we don't ask why? Most often people conclude saying Kwame Nkrumah was a dictator. These people who share this view or see Kwame Nkrumah ... read full comment
Kwame Nkrumah have been on the debate table in the Universities from the past decades and we don't ask why? Most often people conclude saying Kwame Nkrumah was a dictator. These people who share this view or see Kwame Nkrumah in that respect, failed many times in telling why Kwame Nkrumah became a dictator? There are another class of people who detest Kwame Nkrumah because he instituted one party state in Ghana. And again, this class of people also failed in telling why Nkrumah have to declare Ghana a one party state. Nothing don't just happen. There were courses for every action or decision during Nkrumah's era and those courses are what we have to examining to see if Nkrumah took the right steps, just as Kwarteng have out line facts about Nkrumah and I agree with him. Or Ghanaians have forgotten why Nkrumah chose unitary system of government for Ghana over federal system by the UGCC. Nkrumah had to fight his way of self rule through the hearts of people (colonial masters) who hates decolonization so much by putting his life on the front line. Nkrumah was a leader and father of a nation. When the British realize his agitation for independence for the colony, and for that matter made him prime minister and leader of government business just to silence him, he would have listen if he was fighting for his personal interest. He had also came to the realization that to have meaningful life and total freedom that we crave for, rest largely in the total liberation of Africa continent. A course the west fought against and won leaving Africa to exist in pieces. And now we are noting but a stooge by the western policies. If any one think Kwame Nkrumah deserve the brutal treatment, overthrown and all the negativity, that person should come out with his/her article to that effect. God Bless Ghana.
You drank too much of the Young Pioneer cool aid. Nkrumah was an egotistical dictator and had to be overthrown. My illiterate father cocoa farmer could not stand the dude. He simply had to go.
Kwarteng on Young Pioneer propaganda? No. Kwarteng left UST in the early 90s or so. This means he was born after Nkrumah died in 1972 or shortly before that. Kwarteng has no first hand knowledge of the Ghana Young Pioneers or ...
read full comment
And you simply smoked too much of the capitalist weed which was given you by the western fascist that the man my Fisherman grandfather had to bring to power to help liberate the whole of Africa from western fascism was a dict ...
read full comment
Well written article. The meticulous research that preceded it is evident. The unfortunate thing is there are too many Ghanaians who refuse to read anything that is not related to religion. They are blissfully ignorant of the ...
read full comment
kwarteng it is EWES who got rid of Kwame Nkrumah and not BUsia.Wo y3 aboa pii.
" My illiterate father cocoa farmer could not stand the dude " So what did he know about development. Nkrumah's concepts were too complex even for you , so how much more your pathetically illiterate father. he should have ju ...
read full comment
You are a liar! Eventually, it was Busia's " Dialogue with South Africa" which culminated in international diplomatic pressure, as well as boycotts, as even the US is today putting on Russia, that helped the freedom fighters ...
read full comment
Nkrumah studied in the US & USA and returned to Africa as the first and worst dictator as if he had never herd of democracy. He killed all political opponents in Nsawam Prison, declared himself a messiah and President for lif ...
read full comment
Gerald, can you list any nation, especially Western democratic nation where minorities have fared better or on par with the majority? Can you explain the principles behind conservatism? Can you explain why a nation like the U ...
read full comment
Gerald! if your brains were money,you will still be in debt.
You use terms you understand not.
its so sad that Nkruma is so much respected around the globe yet despised by some ghanaians simply because they dont know the facts or the facts have been distorted by some for political reasons.i have learnt a lot out of thi ...
read full comment
Let all those immature and biased MATEMEHO children leave this forum with their non-factual criticisms about Nkrumah,the greatest African of all time.
Francis,continue to educate these IDIOTS who can't even read your numerous references and ascertain the FACTS you put across.
Let CARDINAL(JUSTICE SARPONG) and DR SAS whose writings are mostly based on hatred,assumption and hearsay take some lessons from this FACTUAL writer called Francis Kwarteng.Well done, Francis !
This is intellectual dishonesty at the hghest "Young Pioneer" level. It really insults the memories of Ghanaian patriots like Mensah Sarbah, Nana Kwamena Ansah, Kwaw Ebonyi (who financed Ghanaian lawyers) to go London to figh ...
read full comment
"Opposition, distorting, cheat, overthrown..." Sorry about the typos!
We have a lot of idiots among us who will fall for everything, lies and propaganda. Why was Nkrumah brought to Ghana? Was it not because some citizens including Dr. Danquah have already began putting pressure on the Colonial ...
read full comment
Throwing bombs and creating may hem is democratic opposition and removing such miscreants from society so there can be peace is terrorism or dictatorship?
That is also part of the intellectual dishonesty. Who were the people that were arrested and prosecuted for throwing the bombs, not Kwame Nkrumah's own people? Oh, sometimes one forgets that they actually used you the Togoles ...
read full comment
This foolish writings wiil and can not covince us that Nkrumah was a good leader.Kwame Nkrumah and J.J. Rawlings names shall remain in Ghana history as the two murderass of our presidential history. Ask yourself why Nkrumah ...
read full comment
Nkrumah was inherently an intellectual and not a revolutionary (granted, he drove the independence movement) so he did not adequately take care of the security side of things. Rawlings was a revolutionary and not an intellect ...
read full comment
Dear Readers,
Paragraph 17:
The sentence "This international acknowledgment is important to counter those revisionists who deny Mandela’s signal role in the decolonizing efforts in Southern Africa."
Should read: ...
read full comment
Kwame Nkrumah have been on the debate table in the Universities from the past decades and we don't ask why? Most often people conclude saying Kwame Nkrumah was a dictator. These people who share this view or see Kwame Nkrumah ...
read full comment
thanks for the enlightenment......