September 21st is the 117th Earth Day of “African of the millennium,” first president of independent Ghana and leading Pan-Afrikanist of his generation – Osgayefo Kwame Nkrumah. For Ghana he kick-started industrialisation, education and infrastructure, while championing continental unity by making the country a “fountainhead of emancipation”. (1)
To great extent, Nkrumah’s reputation as a visionary has been maintained in the Pan-Afrikan world but this hasn’t always been the case in his beloved Ghana. The notion that he is “celebrated globally yet vilified locally” not giving him “the same level of recognition and honour he has received across Africa and the world.” (2)
One of the reasons for this lies in the architects of his downfall, like the USA:
“There is also compelling evidence that the CIA was directly involved in the coup… After the coup, the U.S. government rushed to provide financial and diplomatic support for the coup government to ensure that Nkrumah and the CPP could not regain power. This included the delivery of 500 tons of milk to alleviate the hardships that the U.S. had been helping foment only months before.” (3)
This essentially established a process of leveraging western support (or perhaps more accurately freedom from western harm) against policies that were favourable to western interests and as far away from Nkrumah as possible such as the embrace of neoliberalism. But more recently this state of affairs is being challenged: (4)
“Nkrumah’s story illustrates how propaganda can distort national memory and rob citizens of pride in their own history. Restoring his dignity is not only about honouring one man it is about reclaiming Ghana ‘s identity and resisting the manipulation Of truth.” (5)
Opposition to Nkrumah’s legacy, at leasts rhetorically, has lessened over the years with the current administration being termed his “ideological successors” but Ghana no longer occupies the vaunted position it did with The Osgayefo at the helm. (6) If anything that distinction now goes to the neighbouring Alliance of the Sahel States (AES) that are capturing Pan-Afrikan hearts. Indeed, Captain Ibrahim Traore, the charismatic AES icon is said to have “stole the show” at President Mahama’s inauguration in 2024. More recently there are reports that “some Ghanaians say they want to ‘join the AES.’ (7)
Today Ghana is apparently adopting a friend to all approach arguably a rehash of Nkrumah’s non-alignment, spearheading a reparations campaign while signing security agreements with its avowed opponents. Nevertheless, it currently find itself in the centre of a spat between the European Union and Russia with echoes of the old cold war. (8)
More ominous are the reports of a “plot to break Ghana and destroy the AES Countries.” With allegation that the Nigeria, the regional powerhouse is headed by a CIA asset (claims denied by President Tinubu’s aides), the targeting of Ghana takes on much more significance. (9)
It means that Ghana today is in a crucially strategic position and its response to the challenges can greatly impact the face of Afrikan sovereignty going forward.
(1) Oswald Azumah (21/09/20) Today in History: African of the millennium, Kwame Nkrumah. https://oswaldazumah.com/2020/09/today-in-history-african-of-the-millennium-kwame-nkrumah/; Atitso Akpalu (28/01/26) Ghanaians Given a Raw Deal, Part III: Kwame Nkrumah — From Nation Builder to “Nation Wrecker. https://www.modernghana.com/news/1466906/ghanaians-given-a-raw-deal-part-iii-kwame-nkruma.html; Robert D. Kaplan (29/08/25) ‘The Second Emancipation’ Review: Imagining Africa United. https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/books/the-second-emancipation-review-imagining-africa-united-b8e0e3cc
(2) Atitso Akpalu (28/01/26) Ghanaians Given a Raw Deal, Part Ill: Kwame Nkrumah — From Nation Builder to “Nation Wrecker. https://www.modernghana.com/news/1466906/ghanaians-given-a-raw-deal-part-iii-kwame-nkruma.html; Asiedu Nketia (19/09/26) ‘If the world, Africa honoured Nkrumah as the Millennium Man, why are we not doing same?’ https://www.myjoyonline.com/if-the-world-africa-honoured-nkrumah-as-the-millennium-man-why-are-we-not-doing-same-asiedu-nketia/
(3) Joe Tache (17/04/24) The CIA overthrow of Kwame Nkrumah and the struggle against neo-colonialism in West Africa today.. https://liberationnews.org/cia-overthrow-kwame-nkrumah-neocolonialism-west-africa/
(4) Sa’eed Husaini & Gyekye Tanoh (17/03/25) From Nkrumah to neoliberalism. https://africasacountry.com/2025/03/from-nkrumah-to-neoliberalism
(5) Akpalu. Op. Cit.
(6) Dennis Laumann (12/12/24) Kwame Nkrumah’s ideological successors win Ghana’s elections. https://www.peoplesworld.org/article/kwame-nkrumahs-ideological-successors-win-ghanas-elections/; Iddi Yire (19/11/25) Kufuor hails Kwame NkrumaWs for pioneering role 1945 Manchester Congress. https://gna.org.gh/2025/11/kufuor-hails-kwame-nkrumahs-for-pioneering-role-1945-manchester-congress/;
(7) Adrien Lefevre (30/04/26) The Sahel, Heart of the Pan-African Revolution: FLA and JNIM — French Puppets in the War Against All of Africa.. https://allafrica.com/stories/202604300532.html; Taofeek Oyedokun (08/01/25) Gun-wielding Burkina Faso’s leader, Ibrahim Traoré, stole the show at Mahama’s inauguration. https://businessday.ng/news/article/gun-wielding-burkina-fasos-military-leader-stole-the-show-at-mahamas-inauguration/; Chinedu Okafor (10/03/25) Some Ghanaians say they want to ‘join the AES’ – Russian media reveals. https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/some-ghanaians-say-they-want-to-join-the-aes-russian-media-reveals/p1snnvv
(8) Damilola Banjo (25/03/25) A UN Resolution Urging Reparatory Justice Wins Backing Without Western Support. https://passblue.com/2026/03/25/a-un-resolution-urging-reparatory-justice-wins-backing-without-western-support/; Wedaeli Chibelushi (24/03/26) Ghana and EU sign landmark defence deal to combat militant Islamist threat. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c87w80xe1jro; Solomon Ekanem (16/09/26) Russia and EU clash over Ghana influence as recruitment allegations mount and $1 billion pledges go unfulfilled. https://africa.businessinsider.com/local/lifestyle/russia-and-eu-clash-over-ghana-influence-as-recruitment-allegations-mount-and-dollar1/6ztqw22
(9) Edzorna Francis Mensah (13/08/25) Understanding the plot to break Ghana and destroy the AES Countries. https://www.blackagendareport.com/understanding-plot-break-ghana-and-destroy-aes-countries; The Subi Shop (29/03/26) This respected president just sold Africa out to the EU. https://open.substack.com/pub/thesubishop/p/this-respected-president-just-sold?utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web; Ismaila Umaru Lere (21/11/24) Tinubu as CIA’s ‘active asset’. https://21stcenturychronicle.com/tinubu-as-cias-active-asset/; Segun Adewole (13/11/24) Tinubu’s aide rubbishes ‘CIA asset’ claim. https://guardian.ng/news/tinubus-aide-rubbishes-cia-asset-claim/
we ask the question:
Nkrumah at 117: Has Ghana preserved his legacy?
1) Is Kwame Nkrumah still “celebrated globally yet vilified locally”?
2) How should Ghana engage with the AES?
3) Is Ghana’s friend to all approach viable?
4) What is Ghana’s role in the move towards Afrikan sovereignty?
Our Special Guests:
Bro. Ldr. Mbandaka: Resident guest who is Spiritual Leader of the Alkebu-Lan Revivalist Movement and an Afrikan-Centred Education Consultant. Bro. Ldr is a veteran activist of over 40 years standing, a featured columnist in The Whirlwind newspaper and author of Mosiah Daily Affirmations and Education: An African-Centred Approach To Excellence.
Dr. Kenneth Ofosu-Barko: Was a member of the Primary Cohort of Dr. Osagyefo’s Young Pioneers Movement, which was dedicated to the liberation of the African continent and to the development of the people of Africa and of African descent. He is currently a Specialist Public Health physician with 50 years of experience in more than 22 African countries and the Caribbean. Dr. Ofosu-Barko has travelled half the world, with long-term stays (2-6 years) in eight countries: The Bahamas, Nigeria, Zambia, South Africa, Kenya, South Sudan, Uganda and has undertaken extended consultancies in Botswana and Lesotho.
Sis. Maame Nyarkoa: is a graduate of the Amílcar Cabral School is the Deputy National Women’s Organizer of the African Continental UnityParty (ACUP) and Cordinator of ACUP in Asante Region. Sis. Maame is a staunch Nkrumaist
Bro. Kojo Gyasi Nimako: is President of the Osagyefo Youth Movement (OYM)
Bro. Kwadwo Aduamoah Nyamekye: is the National Organiser for Osagyefo Youth Movement
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