Mahama: Declassified US documents confirm CIA’s role in Nkrumah’s 1966 overthrow

ARISE NEWS

President John Mahama has stated that declassified US documents have confirmed that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) played a pivotal role in the overthrow of Ghana’s first president, Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

Speaking in Accra during Ghana’s 68th Independence Day celebrations, Mahama, widely quoted in Ghanaian media, described the February 24, 1966, coup that toppled Nkrumah as “the most regrettable and darkest moment in our nation’s history”.

He highlighted that the US-backed coup set Ghana back politically and economically, impeding the country’s journey towards industrialisation and self-reliance.

“Declassified documents from the United States archives reveal that this was a coup inspired and engineered by the CIA,” Mahama said. “It shattered Nkrumah’s vision of an industrialised and self-reliant Ghana and significantly delayed our attainment of the objectives of nationhood.”

In his speech, Mahama reflected on Ghana’s political journey, emphasising the importance of democratic accountability and the protection of national sovereignty.

“We must remind ourselves that democracy is not just about voting—it is about accountability, safeguarding freedoms, and ensuring socioeconomic prosperity,” he said.