Assassination Attempt on Ghana's First President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah

Strategic Insights -

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana's first president and prime minister, narrowly escaped death in 1964 after an assassination attempt by a police officer, Constable Seth Nicholas Ametewee. The incident occurred on January 2, 1964, at the Flagstaff House in Osu, Accra, where Nkrumah was heading for lunch. The attack, carried out by a 23-year-old police officer assigned to protect the president, left Superintendent Salifu Dagarti, Nkrumah's Aide-De-Camp, fatally shot in the head. Two additional bullets struck Nkrumah's shirt but did not injure him. Ametewee claimed Samuel Amaning, a dismissed police officer, had persuaded him to carry out the assassination.

Key Takeaways:

  • The assassination attempt on Dr. Nkrumah occurred on January 2, 1964, at the Flagstaff House in Osu, Accra.
  • Constable Seth Nicholas Ametewee, a 23-year-old police officer, carried out the attack, firing shots from about 50 yards away.
  • Superintendent Salifu Dagarti, Dr. Nkrumah's Aide-De-Camp, was fatally shot in the head and died on the spot.
  • Two additional bullets struck Dr. Nkrumah's shirt but did not injure him.
  • Ametewee claimed Samuel Amaning, a dismissed police officer, had persuaded him to carry out the assassination and promised him APS2,000 and a trip to the United States in exchange.
  • Dr. Nkrumah retaliated with a kick to the groin, temporarily knocking Ametewee unconscious during a fierce struggle.
  • Ametewee was later tried, found guilty on both counts, and sentenced to death but had his sentence overturned by the Supreme Court on November 6, 1964.
  • Following the incident, police officers were barred from presidential guard duties, and Russian-trained Ghanaian Army officers were assigned instead.
  • Dr. Nkrumah was also given direct command of a Brigadier and became reclusive, remaining at Osu Castle for several weeks.

Statistics:

  • 50 yards: The distance from which Constable Seth Nicholas Ametewee fired shots at Dr. Nkrumah.
  • 2: The number of bullets that struck Dr. Nkrumah's shirt but did not injure him.
  • 1: The number of fatalities resulting from the attack, with Superintendent Salifu Dagarti dying on the spot.
  • 4: The number of attempts Ametewee made to fire his rifle, with the fifth round reportedly jamming.
  • 23: The age of Constable Seth Nicholas Ametewee at the time of the assassination attempt.
  • 1964: The year in which the assassination attempt occurred.

Sources:

  • Ghana Web, 24 May 2025
  • Daily Graphic, 1964
  • Askghmedia, X (post shared on)