OCI Noopy No 49
WEEKLY SUMMARY
central intelligence agency
OFFICE OF CURRENT INTELLIGENCE
Asia-Africa
NEW REGIME MAKING IMPORTANT CHANGES IN GHANA
pro-Western army andOfficers who toppled Kwame Nkrumah'^ radical regime last week have consolidated theirOf Ghana and aresome basic policy changes. The effect will be to reverse Ghana's progressive estrangement from the West and to transform itoderate African state.
Most of the widespreadexpressions of support for the army take-over appear genuine. Although Nkrumah's popularity was massive when he led Ghana tonine years ago, inyears major segments of the country's society had become alienated by his oppressive ruleightening economic squeeze.
Ghanaian affairs are now in the handsationalCouncil (NLC) of eight army and police officers. It is headed by popular General Ankrah, fired by Nkrumah last summer, and includes police chief Harlley as well as Colonellined up the military support essential to the coup. Civil servants, who in general adapted quickly to the
new situation, have been given wider latitude in running the government.
Detailed policy formulation apparently will be theof several new committees staffed by senior civilian most of whom areand Western oriented. This is particularly true of thetee charged by the NLC with the priority task of steering Ghana's currentlyound course again. Thewhich is reported already developing new austerity programs, has made preliminary approaches for major Western assistance. arch Ankrah indicated thatfree enterprise would be given wider scope in Ghana.
The new leaders havea new constitution,eturn tocivilian government. arch Ankrahindicated privately that the NLC would be in no hurry to turn power back to the politicians, in eluding any of the anti-Nkrumah exiles who now may try to resume
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an active role In Ghana. For the present, all political parties and political activity are banned
Onebruary, an flying from Peking toa special SovietNLC told the Soviet that the several hundredtechnicians In Ghanaleave promptly along intocenee tbe embassy* SubsequentlySO technicians China and theGerman trade missionordered out. Two ol egan personnel on t March, exodu* ha*(see also preceding. Reported pressuremembersompleteMoscow and Pokingbeen overruled by concerncredibility of the nowprofessions of Ankrah
that some Soviet technicians would "eventually" be allowed to return to coaplsts certain proj-ec ts,
Although Nkrumah's prospectsomeback now appear very he evidently has not such hopes. Before Peking onebruary hehis intention to fight back and took steps to rallyaaorp Ghanaians and other Africans. However, this netted him little more than expressions of solidarity from other radical African leaders, notablyToure of Guinea. Nkrumah arrived in the Gulnoan capitalarch still claiming to be
"on my way back." Toure'sgesture designating Nkrumah the new "President of Guinea"some indications of thi*gyrations Toure ison Nkrumah's- behalf.
Moderate African states have now begun to extend recognition to the new regime. This has been facilitated by the seating of the NLC's delegation at the current Organizat ion of African Imi Ly meeting in Addis Ababaeated wrangle provoked byradical allies. The NLC's measures to liquidate Nkrumah's African subversion program--the secret Chinese-supportedraining camp was closed the day of theto mend Ghana's long-troubled relations with neighboring muderatc states should iurther strengthen the newAfrican position.
Soviet react ion touster has been cautious and noncommittal. The expulsion of the technicians can be expected toegative response, but this will probablyesire Lo maintain some presence in Ghana. Soviet press reaction has implied West-tern intelligence involvementt but the new regime has not been attacked directly. Remarks madearch by two officers of the Soviet Embassy in Accra that, for the present, policy toward Ghana will be based on acceptance of the coup as an accomplished fact andesire to minimize Soviet losses
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Original document.
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