Kwame Nkrumah’s Successful Decisions in Promoting Ghana’s Economic Development and How Did Them Finally Became a Failure
Shuhan Lu
History 3301
Dr. Ousman Kobo
10 June 2017
Introduction
In the late 1950s, when the black-red-green flag was waving in the Gold Coast’s sky, a new country named Ghana became independent from the colonial rules (BBC 2012:1). Kwame Nkrumah, who was the leader to make the independent, became the Prime Minister of the new Ghana (BBC 2012:1), and guaranteed to bring the bright future to his people (Muehlenbeck 2014:19), had something must be done to make Ghana stronger. Because Ghana’s independence was just after World War II, so besides military force and political power, economy became more and more …show more content…
Muehlenbeck also showed that Nkrumah knew that in order to produce the aluminum and further support the overall industrialization, energy and electricity were strongly needed (2014:18). In this case, Volta River Dam Project was put on the table in 1961 (Muehlenbeck 2014:87). The dam could not only support to produce electricity for producing metals, but also could provide water to irrigate nearby farmland. This big project could become the most important step for Ghana to become an industrial country, so Nkrumah was taking it seriously. Described by Muehlenbeck, when Nkrumah became the first president of Ghana, his first concern was about how to make VRP come true (2014:18-19). He communicated with two presidents of United States closely to gain support, and with the US’s assistance, the dam was finally completed (Muehlenbeck 2014:80-95). The dam could provide Ghana with tons of aluminum and enough electricity. Plus, during the whole process of VRP, the Nkrumah formed good relationship with the US president Kennedy (Muehlenbeck 2014:58-90). So overall, VRP not only could provide economic benefit for Ghana, but also it was a good breakout to create connection between the third world to the developed countries. The good relationship between Ghana and the US would further lead more cooperation to a …show more content…
It was good for a leader to tried new ways to strengthen his own country, but it was not industrialization for Ghana. He came out some policies to make good prepare for industrialization, including dealing with agricultural crops, industries and the energy projects, and all of them seemed to be succeed at once, but time by time, they were not. Ghana’s poor currency saving and immature political system could not catch up with the rapid economic development, so that was why Nkrumah made poor decisions continually that led Ghana to a financial collapse. Although industrial revolution could help Western countries to become more powerful and richer, but it did not mean Ghana could succeed in the same way, because Ghana was a new country after all.
References
Joseph, Annor. "The Achievements and Failures of President Kwame Nkrumah." The Achievements and Failures of President Kwame Nkrumah. GhanaWeb, 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 10 June 2017.
Muehlenbeck, Philip E. Betting on the africans: john f. kennedys courting of african nationalist leaders. Place of publication not identified: Oxford U Press, 2014. Print.
Nkrumah, Kwame. "7-Year Development Plan - Presentation." Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Infobank. N.p., 11 Mar. 1964. Web. 10 June 2017.
"The Story of Africa| BBC World Service." BBC News.
Shuhan Lu
History 3301
Dr. Ousman Kobo
10 June 2017
Introduction
In the late 1950s, when the black-red-green flag was waving in the Gold Coast’s sky, a new country named Ghana became independent from the colonial rules (BBC 2012:1). Kwame Nkrumah, who was the leader to make the independent, became the Prime Minister of the new Ghana (BBC 2012:1), and guaranteed to bring the bright future to his people (Muehlenbeck 2014:19), had something must be done to make Ghana stronger. Because Ghana’s independence was just after World War II, so besides military force and political power, economy became more and more …show more content…
Muehlenbeck also showed that Nkrumah knew that in order to produce the aluminum and further support the overall industrialization, energy and electricity were strongly needed (2014:18). In this case, Volta River Dam Project was put on the table in 1961 (Muehlenbeck 2014:87). The dam could not only support to produce electricity for producing metals, but also could provide water to irrigate nearby farmland. This big project could become the most important step for Ghana to become an industrial country, so Nkrumah was taking it seriously. Described by Muehlenbeck, when Nkrumah became the first president of Ghana, his first concern was about how to make VRP come true (2014:18-19). He communicated with two presidents of United States closely to gain support, and with the US’s assistance, the dam was finally completed (Muehlenbeck 2014:80-95). The dam could provide Ghana with tons of aluminum and enough electricity. Plus, during the whole process of VRP, the Nkrumah formed good relationship with the US president Kennedy (Muehlenbeck 2014:58-90). So overall, VRP not only could provide economic benefit for Ghana, but also it was a good breakout to create connection between the third world to the developed countries. The good relationship between Ghana and the US would further lead more cooperation to a …show more content…
It was good for a leader to tried new ways to strengthen his own country, but it was not industrialization for Ghana. He came out some policies to make good prepare for industrialization, including dealing with agricultural crops, industries and the energy projects, and all of them seemed to be succeed at once, but time by time, they were not. Ghana’s poor currency saving and immature political system could not catch up with the rapid economic development, so that was why Nkrumah made poor decisions continually that led Ghana to a financial collapse. Although industrial revolution could help Western countries to become more powerful and richer, but it did not mean Ghana could succeed in the same way, because Ghana was a new country after all.
References
Joseph, Annor. "The Achievements and Failures of President Kwame Nkrumah." The Achievements and Failures of President Kwame Nkrumah. GhanaWeb, 17 Aug. 2009. Web. 10 June 2017.
Muehlenbeck, Philip E. Betting on the africans: john f. kennedys courting of african nationalist leaders. Place of publication not identified: Oxford U Press, 2014. Print.
Nkrumah, Kwame. "7-Year Development Plan - Presentation." Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah Infobank. N.p., 11 Mar. 1964. Web. 10 June 2017.
"The Story of Africa| BBC World Service." BBC News.