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WHAT HAPPENED IN GHANA?     DU BOIS

For the second time, President Ho Chi Minh had invited him to come to Hanoi for talks with him. The war in that unhappy land was horrifying the world - and no end seemed in sight. President Nkrumah now accepted the invitation and informed Peking, Moscow and Washington of his intentions. To the appropriate person in each capital he expressed the hope that as a result of his visit he would be able to bring considerations for ending the bloodshed. 

I am convinced that this honest, straightforward expression was received in some quarters as the final and decisive "impertinence" of a black man. How dare he undertake such a mission! Was he now attempting to extend his influence to Asia! Such arrogance was not to be borne. He had to be eliminated - now. 
Bang!

the "coup"

Monday morning, February 21st, I went to my offices from the airport where we had seen President Nkrumah off for Hanoi. A three-man television team went with him and we were looking forward to the interesting coverage of faraway places we would soon be presenting.
 
The following Thursday morning, while it was still dark, I was awakened by some loud noise. I sat up in bed, listening. Something exploded not far away - and then what sounded like the clatter of machine guns! I saw that it was nearly four o'clock. In the garden were running feet. I called out the window, "Lock the gates! Don't go out!" My phone rang. "Did I hear it? What was happening?" I turned on the radio. Nothing! But the noise came nearer. My house shook. I heard glass breaking. About six-thirty the radio sputtered and then came a harsh voice:

The Armed Forces of Ghana, together with the Police, have taken over the Government of Ghana. Remain calm and stay inside your homes. Long live Ghana.

I was too stunned to move. Around my home, always within hearing, raged a battle that continued intermittently throughout the day.

The surprise attack succeeded in taking over the airport, Telecommunication stations and Broadcast House in a comparatively short time, but Flagstaff House was another matter. This was the unofficial capitol of Ghana, a group of one-story buildings, surrounded 

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---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 08:57:10 ---------- Reopened for Editing 2024-02-09 09:44:36