GHANA@70

(Gold Coast) — 28 February 1948 — Accra Riots & Christianborg Crossroads Shootings  Ex‑servicemen, including Sgt. Adjetey, peacefully marching to present a petition were shot by colonial police at Christianborg Crossroads in Accra. The killings triggered widespread riots, looting, and protests across the Gold Coast, shaking colonial authority and accelerating the push toward self‑government.

(Gold Coast) — 12 March 1948 — Arrest of the “Big Six”  Kwame Nkrumah, J.B. Danquah, Ako Adjei, Edward Akufo‑Addo, William Ofori Atta, and Obetsebi Lamptey were arrested for “inciting” the riots. Their detention transformed them into national symbols of resistance.

(Gold Coast) — January 1950 — Positive Action Campaign Begins  Nkrumah launched a nationwide campaign of strikes and civil disobedience demanding immediate self‑government. The colonial administration responded with mass arrests.

(Gold Coast) — 21 January 1950 — Nkrumah Imprisoned at Ussher Fort  Kwame Nkrumah was sentenced to prison at Ussher Fort for leading the Positive Action movement. His imprisonment strengthened his popularity and the CPP’s momentum.- Explore Ussher Fort, where Kwame Nkrumahs  imprisonment sparked a revolution.

 (Gold Coast) — 8 February 1951 — CPP Wins Elections  The Convention People’s Party won a decisive victory in the first general elections under the new constitution, even while Nkrumah was still in prison.

(Gold Coast, Accra) — 12 February 1951 — Nkrumah Released from Ussher Fort  Following the CPP victory, Nkrumah was freed and appointed Leader of Government Business — effectively Prime Minister of the Gold Coast.

(Gold Coast)— 27 July 1954 — CPP Wins Second General Election  The CPP strengthened its mandate, enabling Nkrumah to accelerate constitutional reforms toward full independence.

 (Gold Coast) — 9 May 1956 — Final Self‑Government Elections  The CPP won again, confirming Ghana’s readiness for independence. British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast in a disputed UN‑supervised plebiscite.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 6 March 1957 — Independence from the United Kingdom  Ghana became the first sub‑Saharan African nation to achieve independence, led by Kwame Nkrumah. The event reshaped African liberation movements across the continent.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 1957–1960 — Early Nation Building & Pan‑African Leadership  Nkrumah launched ambitious national programs: expanding education, establishing state industries, strengthening agriculture, and positioning Ghana as the center of African liberation movements. George Padmore became a key advisor, helping build the Bureau of African Affairs.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 1 July 1960 — Ghana Becomes a Republic  A national referendum approved a republican constitution. Nkrumah became the first President of Ghana.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 1960–1961 — Arrival of W.E.B. Du Bois in Ghana  Invited by Nkrumah, African‑American scholar W.E.B. Du Bois moved to Ghana to work on the Encyclopedia Africana. He became a Ghanaian citizen and spent his final years contributing to Pan‑African intellectual life.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 1961 — Akosombo Dam Construction Begins  The Volta River Project, one of Africa’s largest infrastructure undertakings, began. It aimed to power Ghana’s industrialization and create Lake Volta, the world’s largest man‑made lake by surface area.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 1961–1965 — Nkrumah’s Major National Projects  Nkrumah launched transformative national developments:

• Tema Harbour (and Black Star Line. Story Here)

• Tema Motorway

• Black Star Square and Black Star Gate (Read Here)

• Ghana Airways (1958 Read The Story Here)

• State Farms & Agricultural modernization

• Industrialization (Ghana Industrial Holdings)

• University of Cape Coast

• KNUST expansion

• Volta River Authority

• Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

• Ghana Broadcasting Corporation modernization  These projects shaped Ghana’s modern identity and infrastructure.

🇬🇭 Ghana — January 1965 — Akosombo Dam Commissioned  The dam was officially opened, providing electricity for industry, mining, and national development. It remains one of Ghana’s most important national assets.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 24 February 1966 — Coup Against Nkrumah  The National Liberation Council (NLC) overthrew Nkrumah, with support by CIA and British Intelligence Service, while he was on a peace mission to Hanoi. Ghana entered its first period of military rule, ending the First Republic.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 1966–1969 — NLC Military Government  The NLC reversed many of Nkrumah’s socialist policies, privatized state enterprises, and aligned Ghana more closely with Western governments.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 29 August 1969 — Busia Government Begins  The Progress Party won elections under the Second Republic. Busia pursued liberal economic reforms and attempted to stabilize Ghana’s finances.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 13 January 1972 — Acheampong Coup  Colonel Ignatius Kutu Acheampong overthrew Busia, establishing the National Redemption Council. His era introduced the “Operation Feed Yourself” agricultural program.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 27 April 1972 — Death of Kwame Nkrumah  Kwame Nkrumah died in Bucharest, Romania, while receiving medical treatment for cancer. His passing marked the end of one of Africa’s greatest liberation leaders.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 9 July 1972 — Nkrumah’s Body Returned to Ghana  Nkrumah’s remains were flown from Conakry to Accra.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 5 July 1978 — Akuffo Palace Coup  General Fred Akuffo replaced Acheampong in an internal military transition.

🇬🇭 Ghana — 7 January 1993 — Fourth Republic Inaugurated  Rawlings was sworn in as the first President of the Fourth Republic.