A viral video of Ghana’s inaugural president, President Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, delivered a poignant Christmas message to Ghanaians while in exile in Guinea Conakry following his overthrow by the security forces in 1966.
The recording, retrieved from Radio Guinea’s Voice of the Revolution, captures Nkrumah’s heartfelt sentiments during the festive season, particularly in the aftermath of what he describes as the setback of Ghana’s development and progress.
A video recording available on the YouTube page Talking Africa, titled “Kwame Nkrumah Christmas Day Speech From Exile,” shows Kwame Nkrumah extending warm wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year despite the challenging circumstances faced by Ghanaians.
Speaking from Conakry over Radio Guinea’s Voice of the Revolution, Nkrumah acknowledged the reflective mood among Ghanaians during the festive occasion, considering the tumultuous events that transpired in the country that year.
“Fellow country men, chiefs and people, comrades and friends. Christmas is here with us again. I am speaking to you in the spirit of the season from Conakry over a radio Guinea’s Voice of the Revolution. In spite of your suffering and humiliation, I wish that you could have a merry christmas and a happy new year.
“This is normally a festive occasion but on this year’s christmas day, Ghaians cannot help reflecting what a fateful year this has been for them. You have seen an unfortunate and sordid chapter in your history. It is a chapter of treachery and betrayal; of greed and hypocrisy; of tint and blunder. It is dark days for Ghana, it is exactly 10 months today, when certain officers in the Ghana Army and Police turned their guns at the very constitution and legal government which they solemnly swore on their honour to protect and defend,” he said.
The ousted leader expresses profound disappointment at the betrayal, emphasizing that those who orchestrated the coup could never have acted in the true interest of the people.
“You know anyone who is capable of such outrageous betrayal of trust, for no reason at all, could never have been motivated by the true interest of the people. Events in Ghana since then have confirmed this beyond any doubt.
“Within 10 short months, the traitors who make up the so-called National Liberation Council, have shown that, it was their morbid lust for money and power and their desire to escape from the just consequences of their corruption and crime which made them commit such despicable act of treason against the State and the people of Ghana. When you look around yourself, their only achievement has been the sordid reversal of Ghana’s development and progress,” he added.