President John Dramani Mahama has said that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) of the United States (US) was responsible for the removal of Ghana’s first President, the late Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Speaking at the 68th Independence Day celebration at the Jubilee House on March 6, 2025, the president disclosed that declassified US intelligence documents show that the CIA was behind the coup that removed Nkrumah while he was out of the country.
“The verdict of history is now loud and clear. Declassified documents from the United States archives reveal that this was a coup inspired and engineered by the CIA,” he said.
The president asserted that Nkrumah’s removal plunged the country into years of instability and marked the end of his vision for the country.
“Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, the founder of our nation, envisioned an industrialised, self-reliant Ghana whose citizens have the highest standard of economic life and the greatest sense of self-esteem, rooted in patriotism and Pan-African unity.
“But on February 24, 1966, a joint military and police coup d’état shattered that dream, plunging Ghana into decades of instability and military takeovers,” he said.
About the Indenpendence Day celebration:
Thursday, March 6, 2025, is exactly 68 years since Ghana gained independence from its British colonial masters.
On Wednesday, March 6, 1957, Ghana, led by its first President, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, made history by becoming the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence from colonial rule, marking the dawn of a new era of freedom for the sub-region and the African continent as a whole.
Unlike previous years, when grand ceremonies ignited the country’s historic Black Star Square and regional capitals, this year’s commemoration was “modest” to cut costs.
A parade was held at the seat of government, where the president addressed the nation to herald the celebrations.
This year’s celebration at the Presidency, on the theme: “Reflect, Review, Reset,” featured key activities such as a Military Guard of Honour to be reviewed by the President and a cultural performance by two groups of basic school pupils.
There was also a poetry recital by a senior high school student.
Similar “modest” celebrations are expected to be held by Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies across the country.
Recent celebrations had been held on a rotational basis, mostly outside the capital, to engender inclusiveness and decentralisation – but the rotational policy has been reversed by the government as part of measures to cut expenditure.
Mahama’s remarks in the video below:
‘Declassified U.S. archives reveal that the 1966 coup was inspired and engineered by the CIA.’ – President Mahama during his address at Ghana’s 68th Independence Anniversary Celebration.
📺 Watch live here: https://t.co/JFXGqkhSjU#CitiNewsroom | #CitiVerify | #GhanaWeekend |… pic.twitter.com/MkThJIjEAo
— CITI FM 97.3 (@Citi973) March 6, 2025
Source: www.ghanaweb.com
