One of the reasons Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, made a lot of enemies was his quest for a united Africa and the support he gave to many African countries seeking independence.

At the time, some Ghanaians were unhappy with Nkrumah using Ghana's resources, including the military, to assist other African states. They accused him of using the country's resources to become the leader of the entire African continent.

One of the leaders of the 1966 coup against Nkrumah, the late Lieutenant General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa, described Nkrumah’s efforts for a liberated and united Africa as a rot that must be stopped.

Before Nkrumah was overthrown, Afrifa, returning from a mission in Congo, contemplated raiding the Flagstaff House in 1962.

“By August 1960, all our forces and equipment were concentrated on the Congo to the detriment of our own country. I started to ask myself what had gone wrong. We had lost lives in a struggle which was not ours, in a cause that was not ours.

“On my arrival at the Accra Airport from the Congo in 1962, I was to lead the men to Tamale, our destination. I paused for a moment and reflected - should I throw this troop of three hundred men into Flagstaff House and stop the rot from continuing?” Afrifa is quoted to have said in a biography.

Nkrumah never envisioned being the leader of a united Africa, stating he had no such intention.

In a video clip seen by GhanaWeb, Nkrumah laughed at suggestions that he wanted to represent all of Africa.

When asked, “Do you think you can represent all of Africa?”, he replied, “Me, represent Africa? Africa is too big for me.”

Ghana’s first president indicated that his efforts for a liberated and united Africa were part of his ideology, which he believed would help develop the continent.

“I’m only trying to throw out ideas. So, it’s only the ideas and principles which I believe in, which I think will be the ultimate healthy continent, that I’m trying to put forward,” he said.

Nkrumah added, “And if the ideas and principles I promote are embraced by the majority, then I believe I have fulfilled my duty.”

Watch his remarks in the video below:



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