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FREEDOMWAYS          THIRD QUARTER 1966

coordinated that never again would the production of one product be the basis for Ghana’s economy. 

In his 1964 New Year's Eve radio address to the nation President Nkrumah reviewed economic conditions in the country. He explained the inevitable results of the drop in cocoa prices, told what the Government was doing to cope with the situation, chided traders for their tendency to raise prices and urged the people to increase individual vegetable gardens. He announced that it was now necessary to place certain restrictive controls on foreign firms operating in Ghana. Many of these firms had paid nothing to the government in taxes since independence, claiming that they were operating at a loss. In view of the growing urban population as well as the influx of outsiders into Ghana, the President said he had serious doubts concerning the truth of these allegations. Foreign firms were now requested to submit their account books to government auditors.

Three days later the second attempt was made on President Nkrumah’s life.

how Ghana resisted efforts to break economy

Refusal of the world cocoa markets to buy Ghana’s cocoa at reasonable price did not collapse Ghana’s economy. Measures outlined in the Seven-Year Plan would slowly but definitely prevent that. And so, additional “squeezes” were applied. With partially completed projects on every hand, outside suppliers of vital construction materials suddenly demanded cash in hand (in pounds sterling) before materials would be shipped! Shortages in essential conveyors of all kinds threatened to halt movement throughout the country. Tires, spare parts for automobiles, for trucks, for machinery of all kinds, disappeared from the market. Herculean efforts had to be made and they were made.

One word about the “starving conditions in Ghana”: At no time during these admittedly difficult days was anybody starving in Ghana. There is too much food growing wild by the roadsides! Prices were high, but actual food shortages existed in the imported items considered essential only by Europeans - in West Africa all white people are designated as Europeans. Scotch whiskey could only be obtained on the black market; Maine lobster and French champagne disappeared from the shelves; Danish cheese, Crisco, Kleenex, French and American cosmetics, almonds - these items people in Ghana had

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 09:41:24