A Little History

Kwame Nkrumah

        I have not posted too much about the historical background of the country of Ghana. Saturday, with Elder and Sister Parke, we went to the resting place of Ghana's first President, Kwame Nkrumah. The following is a brief history of the man that laid the framework for the country known as Ghana.

        Ghana was formerly known as the Gold Coast because of its gold reserves. It took its present name from the once famous West African Empire called Ghana that flourished between the 4th and the 10th centuries. The area was about 800km northwest of Accra. The present area of Ghana has been inhabited since pre-historic times. Historians believe that the original inhabitants were among those who traveled southwards from the dry fringes of the expanding Sahara Desert.

        Late in the 15th century Europeans arrived on the coast. They were amazed at the vast amount of gold that was available in the country displayed by the chiefs and the locals. They named the area the "Gold Coast". By 1872 only the British remained. The Gold Coast became a model of prosperity and education among the British colonies. 

        The price of cocoa fell in the first half of the 20th century which led to a trade boycott of farmers which shook the colonial government. An American and U.K. educated man by the name of Kwame Nkrumah became the first Prime Minister of the Gold Coast in 1951 and led it to its independence in March of 1957 becoming Ghana's first Prime Minister and when Ghana became a Republic in 1960 he became its first President. In 1964 his party declared Ghana a one-party state which lasted until he was overthrown in a coup d'etat in 1964. He was a socialist and his philosophy was definitely in line with that of the Eastern block. After is ouster from power he was exiled to Guinea. In failing health he flew to Romania where he died in 1972 at the age of 62.

        He was buried in the village of his birth, Nkroful, Ghana. His tomb remains there but his remains have been removed to this park in Accra and this large national memorial tomb.

The above statue was vandalized at the time Nkrumah was ousted from power.

Entrance to the Museum

Elder and Sister Parke, Temple Missionaries, with some of Nkrumah memorbilia.

School children on a field trip in front of Nkrumah timeline.

Sadness at not being able to finish the work he had started.

Barry in front of the Moselieum

Inside the tomb.

Pond statuary

His symbol, the outstretched hand, "Forward".

Truly, the best kept area we have been to in Ghana.

Fun Field Day

Luckily, it's not working.

Nice day for a wedding.

Second of three brides that we saw come into the park.

Parliament Building across the street.