HISTORY RELOADED: DR. KWAME NKRUMAH IS 109 YEARS TODAY- MR. DANIEL FENYI

Did you know Kwame Nkrumah was born on 1912 and not 1909?

Did you know Kwame Nkrumah was born on September 18 and not 21?

*18th* September was a *Saturday,* thus the name *Kwame.*
*21st* September was a Tuesday and cannot be the birthday of a "Kwame".

Question:
Why do Ghanaians celebrate 21st and not 18th, have we lost our history?

Did you know Nkrumah was the only child of his mother?

In fact, did you even know His original name was _Francis Nwia Kofi_ (after a family relative) but later, his parents renamed him, _Francis Kwame Ngolomah,_ and he changed it to Kwame Nkrumah in 1945?

Did you know Nkrumah was a Catholic, attended Roman School and later trained as a teacher? One of his teachers was Kwegyir Aggrey.

*Nkrumah's Educational Background*
B.A Economics and Sociology (1939)
B.A Theology (1942)
M.A Philosophy
MSc Education
PhD Anthropology ( London School of Economics , failed)
PhD University College, London (failed)
B.A Law, Gray's Inn (failed)

Did you know Kwame Nkrumah's (Doctor) is an honorary doctorate degree and not an academic one?

_Well, the most successful can also have traits of failure in life, ok!_

*The Big Six*
They were the founding members of UGCC, the 1st true political party in Ghana. They are:
*Ebenezer Ako-Adjei*
*Edward Akufo-Addo*
*Joseph Boakye Danquah*
*Kwame Nkrumah*
*Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey*
*William Ofori Atta*

All these were "part-time" politicians except Nkrumah who was paid as a "full time" politician. Ako Adjei recommened him to be employed and Paa Grant paid for his flight cost £100.

Did you know the big six were imprisoned? Well, Nkrumah was sent to Lawra (prison). They were released on April, 1948.

3-months after their release, Nkrumah established _Ghana National College_ on Friday, 16th July, 1948. Funny right? The name *Ghana* was there 9-years before the Gold Coast was renamed Ghana in 1957.

16 boys and 1 girl, total of 17 students started the school. Among them are;
Prof Allotey (world renowned scientist)
Prof. Kofi Amoa Oduro (Ghana Medical School)
Dr L. K. A. Derban – (VRA)
Prof. K. Osei Manu – (University of Columbia)
Mr S. I. K. Boakye-Agyeman – chartered accountant
Mr Joseph Kingsley Bentum-Williams – first Head prefect, past CEO of GIHOC
Dr Asare Berkye – gynaecologist and obstetrician in Cairo, Egypt
Mr Twumasi Ankrah – died prematurely from activities of his political career.

Nkrumah formed CPP in 1949. Ghana's first general election was held on 1951 and CPP won 34 out of 38 seats, UGCC won 3 seats and an Independent candidate won 1. Nkrumah was in prison then, so his assistant did everything, who is this assistant?

*Gbedemah,* Nkrumah's vice and former Science teacher, Accra Academy.

But did you know they later became enemies? Gbedemah had to flee for his life in exile as Nkrumah wanted to arrest him.

*To be continued...*