The final moments of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, have been captured in some rare videos that show his body lying in state on Saturday, May 13, 1972, in Conakry, Guinea.
His widow, Fathia Nkrumah, dressed in black, looked grief-stricken as she mourned her husband.
Dr Nkrumah was a legendary leader who fought for Ghana’s independence from British colonialism in 1957. He was also a staunch advocate of pan-Africanism, the ideology that called for the unity and cooperation of all African people.
He played a key role in the establishment of the African Union, formerly known as the Organisation of African Unity.
However, Dr Nkrumah’s life was cut short by a military coup that toppled his government in February 24, 1966, while he was on a trip to China to support the peace efforts in Vietnam.
He was forced into exile in Guinea, where he was welcomed by his friend and fellow nationalist, Sekou Toure. He died of cancer on April 27, 1972, in Bucharest, Romania, at the age of 62.
Dr Nkrumah’s funeral was attended by many African leaders and representatives of 25 other countries who came to pay their respects to the fallen hero. His body was flown to Ghana in July 1972, where he received two more funerals in Accra and his birthplace of Nkroful.
Dr Nkrumah’s legacy lives on in Ghana and across Africa. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest African leaders of all time and a symbol of anti-colonialism and pan-Africanism.
His birthday is celebrated as a national holiday in Ghana and a day of remembrance in many other African countries. His words and deeds continue to inspire generations of Africans who aspire for freedom, justice, and dignity.