Kwame Nkrumah

21 September 1909 – 27 April 1972

Kwame Nkrumah was a Ghanaian politician and revolutionary who led the Gold Coast to independence from Britain in 1957, becoming Ghana's first prime minister and later president. A leading advocate of Pan-Africanism, he was overthrown in a 1966 coup and died in exile.

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Life events

Born in Nkroful, Gold Coast
21 September 1909

Kwame Nkrumah was born in the village of Nkroful in the British Gold Coast.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Studied in the United States
1935 – 1945

He earned degrees at Lincoln University and the University of Pennsylvania.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Helped organize the Fifth Pan-African Congress
1945

He co-organized the influential congress in Manchester, England.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Founded the Convention People's Party
12 June 1949

He established the CPP to campaign for immediate self-government.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Led Ghana to independence
6 March 1957

He became leader of the newly independent Ghana, the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
Achievement ✓
Became President of Ghana
1 July 1960 – 24 February 1966

Ghana became a republic and Nkrumah took office as its first president.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Lived in exile in Guinea
1966 – 1972

He was granted honorary co-presidency and asylum in Guinea after the coup.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Overthrown in a military coup
24 February 1966

He was deposed while abroad by a coup led by military and police officers.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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Died in Bucharest
27 April 1972

He died of cancer in Bucharest, Romania, while receiving medical treatment.

Source: en.wikipedia.org
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