GHANA: DR. KWAME NKRUMAH, GHANA'S FIRST PRESIDENT, BURIED AT HIS HOME TOWN OF NKROFUL.

Record ID: 442097

  • Title: GHANA: DR. KWAME NKRUMAH, GHANA'S FIRST PRESIDENT, BURIED AT HIS HOME TOWN OF NKROFUL.
  • Date: 11th July 1972
  • Summary: 1. GV Helicopter carrying coffin lands (2 shots) 0.11 2. SV Madame Nkrumah out of helicopter 0.21 3. LV & SV Widow and other mourners watch as libation is poured and sheep is slaughtered (6 shots) 0.40 4. LV & CU Mourners watch as coffin is carried to landrover (2 shots) 0.47 5. SV & GV Crowds follow cortege to family house (4 shots) 1.14 6. SV & CU Body in open coffin (2 shots) 1.20 7. SCU Nkrumah's mother touches coffin while being assisted by Madame Nkrumah 1.23 8. LV & SV Funeral service (3 shots) 1.31 9. LV & SV Coffin carried to grave-side, service continues (5 shots) 1.52 10. SV Coffin lowered into grave. 1.58 Initials BB/1500 JL/MR/BB/1530 Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 26th July 1972 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NKROFUL, southwest of ACCRA, GHANA
  • Country: Ghana
  • Reuters ID: LVAEO97BD5BRCNXVGCKQZTSE43D1
  • Story Text: Ghana's first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, was buried at his home town of Nkreful, 240 miles (384 kms) southwest of Accra on Sunday (9 July).

    The body of the ex-President, who led Ghana to independence in 1957, lay in state for 10 hours in Accra in 'saturday. Dr. Nkrumah died in a clinic in bucharest, Rumania, last April after six years in exile in Guinea following his overthrow in a military coup in February of 1966.

    The return of his body to Ghana followed lengthy negotiations between Ghana's present military rulers and the Guinean government of President Sekou Tours. After his overthrow, Dr. Nkrumah was appointed joint president of Guinea.

    Traditional rulers performed customary rites when Dr. Nkrumah's body arrived in Nkroful on Sunday. His body lay in state for three hors before the burial service.

    SYNOPSIS: The body of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first President, was returned to his home town of Nkroful, southwest of Accra, on sunday, for burial.

    Madame Nkrumah accompanied the coffin on the journey from Accra, where the ex-President lay in state for ten hours on Saturday.

    Dr. Nkrumah's widow and other mourners watched as traditional rulers performed customary rites when the coffin arrived. dr. Nkrumah had been a divisional chief on Nkroful.

    Dr. Nkrumayh died in a clinic in Bucharest, Rumania, Last April, after six years of exile in Guinea, following his overthrow in a military coup in 1966. He was sixty-two. The ex-President, known as "Osagyefo", saviour, to many Ghanaians, had led Ghana to independence in 1957. The return of his body to Ghana followed lengthy negotiations between Ghana's military rulers and the government of Guinea.

    Before the burial, the body of the ex-President lay in state for three hours. Among the mourners was his mother, Madame Nyaniba.

    A eulogy, read on behalf of head-of-state Colonel Ignatius Acheampong, said the former President had "waged a relentless war against colonialism and racism." Colonel Acheampong said it was a matter of great satisfaction and relief to Ghana that Dr. Nkrumah's remains had been returned home for burial. The eulogy continued, "Today we mourn the loss of a great leader whose place in history is well-assured. We join world leaders in paying tribute to this worthy son of Africa."
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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