Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed that newly declassified United States documents reveal the Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA) involvement in the 1966 coup that ousted the country’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
Speaking at Ghana’s 68th Independence Day celebration in Accra, Mahama described the February 24, 1966, coup as one of the most regrettable moments in the nation’s history. He lamented that the foreign-backed overthrow disrupted Nkrumah’s ambitious vision for an industrialized and self-reliant Ghana, setting back the country’s political and economic progress.
“Declassified documents from the United States archives reveal that this was a coup inspired and engineered by the CIA,” Mahama stated. “It shattered Nkrumah’s vision of an industrialized and self-reliant Ghana and significantly delayed our attainment of the objectives of nationhood.”
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The revelation adds weight to long-standing suspicions that Nkrumah’s pan-Africanist ideology and socialist policies made him a target during the Cold War. While there has been widespread speculation about CIA involvement, Mahama’s statement marks one of the most direct acknowledgments from a sitting Ghanaian president.
Beyond reflecting on the past, Mahama used the occasion to stress the importance of democracy, accountability, and national sovereignty. He urged Ghanaians to assess the country’s progress in governance, economic development, and resource management, particularly in the face of global challenges such as climate change.
“We must remind ourselves that democracy is not just about voting—it is about accountability, safeguarding freedoms, and ensuring socioeconomic prosperity,” he said.
Mahama’s remarks have reignited discussions on the long-term consequences of Nkrumah’s removal, particularly its impact on Ghana’s economic trajectory and Africa’s broader push for self-determination. As the nation moves forward, his speech serves as a call for reflection on past mistakes and a renewed commitment to Ghana’s future.
