SMG SALUTES NKRUMAH; On 51st Anniversary Of His Death

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The Socialist Movement of Ghana has paid glowing tribute to Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, founder of the modern republic of Ghana and first president on the 51^st anniversary of his death.

Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah died in Bucharest Romania, on 27^th April 1972 after a short illness.

Over five decades after his passing, the Socialist Movement of Ghana in a statement signed by Comrade Kwesi Pratt Jn., General Secretary of the Movement has eulogized Nkrumah for his heroic achievements which have stood the test of time even till today while attacking the United States (US) Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) for its role in the overthrow and death of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

This is the full text of the statement by the SMG;

STATEMENT ON THE 51ST ANNIVERSARY OF THE DEATH OF OSAGYEFO DR.
KWAME NKRUMAH

The Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) does not mourn the death of Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah,
Founder of the modern Republic of Ghana and an inspiration for the national liberation movement in
Africa. On the occasion of the 51st anniversary of his death in Romania, we salute his untiring efforts to
free all of Africa from the yoke of exploitation and oppression and his full commitment to the unity of
working people throughout the world.

Nkrumah died on April 27th 1972 only six years after the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of
the United States of America and other western intelligence agencies combined their forces to overthrow
his progressive government with the help of traitors in the Ghana Armed Forces and the police. The
objective of the February 1966 coup was clearly to subvert Nkrumah’s efforts at the unification of
Africa and the building of self reliant national economy. Indeed the British High Commissioner in Accra
had warned in September 1961, that Nkrumah was making Africans too politically conscious and urged
his government to get rid of him.

It is significant that 51years after his death and 57years after his overthrow, the neo-colonial
agenda of the coup plotters has been exposed for what it really is. Throughout the continent of Africa,
the working people and their allies are waging battles against the unbridled privatisation of state
enterprises, the massive devaluation of national currencies, the lack of access to social services such as
education, health, and housing and rising cost of living. Today, many African countries have lined up in
Washington, begging for bailout programmes from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) which only
promises more misery for the working people.

Ghana which led the struggle for independence in sub-saharan Africa has become bankrupt
under the leadership of the opponents of Nkrumah who style themselves as Danquah-Busiasts. In a
relatively short period of six years, the national debt has ballooned from GHC 120bn to GHC 392bn.
The country now needs 128 percent of total national revenue to pay for only debts and debt servicing
and public sector emoluments. The official rate of inflation is pegged at more than 50 percent and the
prices of food and other household items have increased by 300 percent over the last two years.

The Socialist Movement of Ghana (SMG) is convinced beyond any doubt that the path to
meaningful development lies in a return to the Nkrumaist prescription of collective self-reliance under

the banner of broad pan-African unity. This must necessarily entail the adoption of a common currency
for Africa, a common defence and foreign policy and the full political integration of the entire continent.
We applaud the intention of the governments of Burkina Faso and Guinea to form a federation as
was done by Ghana-Guinea-Mali in the 1960s. It is our hope that other countries in the region and on the
continent will join this courageous effort at the political integration of Africa.

It is also noteworthy that as we mark the 51st anniversary of the death of Nkrumah, a strident
anti-french neo-colonial wave is sweeping across the continent and the masses are demanding the
dismantling of all foreign military bases. This in our view is a manifestation of the rejection of the
raison d’etre of the February 1966 coup against Nkrumah.

On this occasion, we declare our unflinching solidarity with all the forces of national liberation
throughout the world fighting for the right to self-determination and national independence including
Palestine and the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic.
The SMG also extends its solidarity to the Governments and peoples of Cuba, Venezuela and
Iran who are engaged in struggles against imperialist aggression in the forms of military subversion and
economic blockade.
Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah continues to inspire us in our struggle for African Unity under
the banner of scientific socialism and we are sure of victory in the not too distant future. We will be
victorious.

Signed.
Kwesi Pratt Jnr.
General Secretary