1909 - Born in Nkroful

1935 - Goes to university in US; later travels to England, where becomes involved in West African Students Union

1947 - Returns home; becomes General Secretary of United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC)

1948 - Begins travelling Gold Coast as leader of youth movement, proclaiming "self-government now"

1949 - Forms Convention People's Party

1950 - Calls for "positive action" civil disobedience; arrested and sentenced to three years in jail for leading the campaign

1951 - Wins general election while in prison; released soon after

1957 - Gold Coast becomes independent and re-named Ghana; Nkrumah is prime minister