“The bodyguard took the bullet Our father entering the house covered in blood” –Samia on 1964 attack

Samia Nkrumah, daughter of Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, has recounted the assassination attempt that nearly claimed her father’s life, describing the circumstances surrounding the attack and the role played by his bodyguard in saving him. According to a report by GhanaWeb, she shared the account during a lecture organised in honour of her father’s legacy.

Speaking at the Padmore-Du Bois-Nkrumah Lecture organised by the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, Samia said her father made enormous sacrifices in pursuit of his political vision. She called on the younger generation to revisit his ideas and apply them to the challenges facing Africa today.

She recalled the distressing moment when she and her older brother saw their father return home covered in blood, with a severe injury to his cheek.

According to Samia, Nkrumah survived the attack largely because his bodyguard, Salifo Degazi, intervened by placing himself between the president and the assailant. The bodyguard was fatally shot while protecting him, and she believes her father would not have survived without his intervention.

Samia further explained that Nkrumah, who was over 50 at the time, fought back and managed to overpower the attacker. During the struggle, the assailant reportedly bit into his cheek while attempting to escape, tearing the flesh and leaving him bleeding heavily. The injury, she said, accounted for the bloodstains later seen on his white suit.

Beyond recounting the assassination attempt, Samia reflected on her father’s broader vision for Africa’s development. She explained that Nkrumah and other leaders of his generation believed the continent could achieve meaningful progress through unity, shared resources, common industries, improved infrastructure and collective planning.

She urged African leaders and citizens to preserve the Pan-African ideals championed by her father, stressing the importance of working together to achieve economic independence and address the continent’s development challenges.

https://x.com/gh_first_always/status/2113139618661150765?s=20

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