Nkrumah's one party State: A recipe for Disaster
Kwame Nkrumah's one-party state was indeed a recipe for disaster. By 1964, Ghana was officially designated a one-party state, with Nkrumah as life president of both the nation and the party . This move marked a significant shift towards authoritarianism, where opposition parties were banned, and the Convention People's Party (CPP) became the only authorized party. Nkrumah's popularity initially rose due to his focus on public works and Pan-Africanism, but his administration soon became plagued by corruption, mismanagement, and economic crisis ¹. The country's economy was crippled by foreign debt, and chronic food shortages led to widespread labor unrest and a general strike in September 1961. Key Factors Leading to Disaster: Authoritarian Rule: Nkrumah's government became increasingly authoritarian, with opposition parties banned and critics silenced ¹. Economic Mismanagement: The government's grand development projects led to massive foreign debt and econom