24th February, 2025
On 24th of February 1966, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was on a diplomatic mission to Asia specifically, Vietnam when he was told by the Ambassador of China to Ghana that he had been deposed from power. Dr. Nkrumah had been invited at the invitation of Premier Ho Chi Minh to come and aid in the mediation of the ongoing war in Vietnam when he was ousted in his absence. This removal was spearheaded by leaders of the National Liberation Council namely Gen. Kotoka, Gen. Afrifa and Gen. Ankrah who appeared on Ghana TV at 6am on 24th February 1966 congratulating themselves on their easy success.
The coup nicknamed Operation Cold Chop was carried out strategically by by the NLC with support from the Ghana Police Service. These military men forced the surrender of various major generals after they removed Dr. Nkrumah from power. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s 22 officials who were Ministers of State who were on the trip with him to Vietnam were all dissolved. Some returned whiles some scared, settled in other countries like Quaison Sackey who was the Foreign Minister and Kwasi Armah who was the Minister of Trade.
The new government opened the gates of prisons and allowed all inmates who were imprisoned from Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s Preventive Detention Act. President Nkrumah received messages of encouragement from Presidents of countries like Sekou Touré of Guinea, Nasser of Egypt, Nyerere of Tanzania and Modibo Keita of Mali. President Sekou Touré invited Dr., Nkrumah to Guinea where he arrived on 2nd March 1966 and was given a 21 gun salute at the airport. He was declared as a Co-Head of State and Secretary General of the Guinean Democratic Party by President Sekou Touré.
AFRICAN VOICES INTERNATIONAL celebrates Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s remarkable works and the sacrifices he made for Ghana. Despite the challenges and what some describe as “evil schemes” by the National Liberation Council. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah’s contributions to Ghana’s independence and his vision for the country remain significant. We say Hongera to a phenomenal leader whose works has served as the foundation for many across the world.
AFRICAN VOICES INTERNATIONAL, FREEDOM IN AFRICA
