The Social Construction of Kwame Nkrumah: Collective Memory and Colonial Persistence in Cape Coast, Ghana

While Kwame Nkrumah's achievements in promoting African identity and self-reliance have been positively explored by some scholars, others criticize his governance for perpetuating centralized power structures reminiscent of colonial administration. This dual concern informs the purpose of this study, which explored the perceptions of the people of Cape Coast regarding the persistence of colonial influences in contemporary Ghana and the contributions of Kwame Nkrumah to Ghana's independence and post-colonial development using a qualitative research method. Using purposive sampling guided by the principle of data saturation, 12 participants were selected and interviewed. The data was thematically analysed. In terms of findings, the people of Cape Coast perceive the country's governance and socio-economic structures as enduring legacies of colonialism. The people of Cape Coast also emphasized visionary leadership, liberation, political independence, legacy of sacrifice, and resilience as contributions of Kwame Nkrumah to Ghana's independence. This study concludes that colonial influences persist in contemporary Ghana and Nkrumah's dedication to economic development still influences the economic and social landscape of Ghana. Based on the findings, the study recommends that policy makers and educators strengthen public civic education and historical engagement initiatives that critically address colonial legacies and Kwame Nkrumah’s developmental vision, in order to deepen citizens’ understanding of how past governance structures continue to shape contemporary socio-economic realities in Ghana.