Nkrumah, Kwame

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Nkrumah, Kwame (1909–72) Ghanaian statesman, prime minister (1957–60), first president of Ghana (1960–66). He was the leading post-colonial proponent of Pan-Africanism. In 1950 the British imprisoned Nkrumah, but released him when his party won the general election. He led the Gold Coast to independence in 1957, and became prime minister. In 1960, Gold Coast became the Republic of Ghana and Nkrumah was made president. Nkrumah gradually assumed absolute power and, following a series of assassination attempts, Ghana became a one-party state (1964). While on a visit to China, he was deposed in a military coup (1966).

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