Ghana recently marked Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day, a day to honour the country's first President, the late Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, who led the struggle for the country's independence.
Beyond his role in securing Ghana’s independence from British colonial rule, Nkrumah’s presidency was marked by major political developments, including several reported attempts on his life.
The late Dr Kwame Nkrumah is arguably the country’s leader who survived the most assassination attempts in its history.
Nkrumah himself, in his book, "Dark Days in Ghana", stated that at least six assassination attempts were made against him, according to a series of posts shared by Ghana Crimes on X about an article by Philip Afeti Korto.
“Members of the Police and the Special Branch have been involved in each of the six attacks made on my life, and have frequently ignored, and sometimes aided, the activities of people they knew were plotting to overthrow the government,” part of Nkrumah’s book is quoted as saying.
The article narrated that one of the attacks on Nkrumah was carried out by his own security guard, Police Constable Seth Ametewee, at the then seat of government, the Flagstaff House, on Thursday, January 2, 1964.
“The time was about 1:15 pm and the setting was the courtyard of the seat of the Government of Ghana, the Flagstaff House. In the company of two security guards and his aide de camp (ADC), Salifu Dagarti, President Nkrumah was about to move from the Flagstaff House to Christiansborg (Osu) Castle for lunch.
“Police Constable Ametewee, who was on guard duty at the Flagstaff House, shot at President Nkrumah four (4) times when the President was moving towards his car. Four gunshots at the President by no other person but a police officer assigned to guard the presidential office? This gory act resonates with the Shakespearean assertion that goes,” part of the article reads.
Amid the chaos, Nkrumah’s driver was nowhere to be found, and the two men accompanying him, including his aide-de-camp (ADC), took cover behind his vehicle.
Ametewee fired at Nkrumah again when the former president stood up to understand what was happening, but Superintendent Salifu, the ADC, intervened and took the bullet in his head, killing him instantly.
“Constable Ametewee, who was appointed a presidential guard only a few days ago, fired again, but his gun failed, and the President started crying for help. However, the armed police officers and senior government officials at the scene made no move. One official was reported to have remarked, ‘They’ve bungled it again’.”
Ghana’s first president then started running for cover, eventually finding refuge in the Flagstaff House kitchen, where the famous fight took place.
“Ametewee had bitten the President’s cheek, and the President also kicked Ametewee in the groin, causing Ametewee to become momentarily unconscious,” parts of the article read.
It added that “It was only at this stage that other police officers intervened, knocking out Ametewee, who lay on the floor of the Flagstaff House kitchen. He was then placed under arrest.”
Constable Ametewee was sentenced to death by the Criminal Session of the High Court in Accra for the murder of Superintendent Salifu and the attempted murder of the President.
However, the Supreme Court overturned Ametewee’s death sentence after ruling that his intention was not to kill Salifu. It stated: “If a person does an act with the intent to kill…and his act happens to take effect, whether completely or incompletely, against a different person, he shall be liable to be tried and punished as if his intent has been directed against that different person…”
One of the Big Six, J.B. Danquah, died in prison after being detained for allegedly bribing Ametewee to kill Dr Kwame Nkrumah.
View the series of tweets below:
Police Constable Seth Nicholas Kwame Ametewee shot at President Nkrumah but Police Superintendent Salifu Dagarti, a British trained Ghanaian veteran Police Officer saved the President by shielding him and receiving the bullets on his behalf. Salifu died as a result of Ametewee’s gunshots.
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
Nkrumah himself put the number of unsuccessful assassination attacks on him at six (6) and he blamed it on the Police and others. He stated, “Members of the Police and the Special Branch have been involved in each of the six attacks made on my life, and have frequently ignored, and sometimes aided, the activities of people they knew were plotting to overthrow the government.”
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
Police Constable Ametewee who was on guard duty at the Flagstaff House shot at President Nkrumah four (4) times when the President was moving towards his car. Four gunshots at the President by no other person but a Police Officer assigned to guard the presidential office? This gory act resonates with the Shakespearean assertion that goes,
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
The President's official driver vanished in the midst of the chaos. The President's political party (CPP)-appointed presidential security guard took cover behind the President's car. President Nkrumah and Supt. Salifu took cover as well.
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
After killing his colleague Police Officer instantly, Constable Ametewee tried firing his 5th round at President Nkrumah but miraculously, the bullet ejected. At this point, the President started running for dear life and shouting for help but the armed police officers and senior government officials at the scene made no move. One official was reported to have remarked, “They’ve bungled it again.”
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
The Burial of Salifu and the Removal of the Police from the President’s Security Details https://t.co/swMvsz7zTm
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
JB Danquah was, therefore, detained at Nsawam Prison under the Preventive Detention Act (PDA) until he died on February 4, 1965 despite the fact that President Nkrumah even gave him amnesty. Ironically, Ametewee who shot at the President and killed a presidential ADC in the process was given a fair trial but J.B. Danquah who was alleged to have bribed Ametewee to kill the President was detained without trial until J.B. died in prison.
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
However, the Supreme Court held in accordance with the Criminal Offence Act, 1960 (Act 29) that even though Salifu was not the appellant’s actual target at the time, the appellant was liable for the death of the deceased. As such, Ametewee’s contention was wrong and untenable.
— Ghana Crimes Ltd. (@GhanaCrimes) November 12, 2023
Poignantly, the Supreme Court stated, “If a person does an act with the intent to kill…and his act happens to take effect, whether completely or incompletely, against a different person, he shall be liable to be tried and punished as if his intent has been directed against that different person…”
BAI
