Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah’s second son, Gamal Gorkeh Nkrumah, 68, has died in Egypt, the family has announced.
Gorkeh Nkrumah, a veteran journalist and writer, passed away last Wednesday, having battled ill health for a while.
His burial will take place in Cairo tomorrow in line with Islamic tradition, but details concerning memorial arrangements and opportunities to pay tribute to his life and legacy will be communicated in due course.
Announcement
His sister, Samia Nkrumah, on behalf of the family, announced the death in a statement yesterday.
“It is with profound sadness that the Nkrumah family announces the passing of Gamal Gorkeh Nkrumah, beloved son of Ghana’s founding President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, and a respected journalist, writer and intellectual, a family statement issued by Samia Nkrumah said.
“Gamal passed away peacefully in Cairo, Egypt, following a prolonged illness. He had been receiving care at a rehabilitation centre after suffering a stroke,” the statement said.
The statement said throughout his life, Gorkeh Nkrumah remained deeply committed to the ideals of justice, human dignity, African unity and international solidarity, emphasising that as a journalist and commentator, he dedicated his voice and intellect to examining the political, social and cultural forces shaping Africa and the wider world.
"A man of profound intellectual curiosity, independence of thought and quiet conviction, Gamal carried forward, in his own distinctive way, the enduring legacy of our father, while building a life and reputation firmly grounded in his own principles and achievements.
The statement further described his passing as a profound loss not only to the family and loved ones, but also to the wider community of friends, colleagues and readers who valued his insight, humanity and unwavering engagement with the great questions of our time.
It also expressed appreciation to all those who stood by him throughout his illness, particularly the medical professionals and caregivers in Cairo who provided him with care and dignity.
“Our deepest thanks also go to the governments and people of his two countries, Egypt and Ghana, for their generous support,” the family said in the statement
Profile
Born in Accra in 1958, he was the first of three children of Dr Kwame Nkrumah and his Egyptian wife, Fathia.
He studied at the School of Oriental and African Studies in London, where he earned a doctorate in political science.
He taught development and economics in Zimbabwe, before eventually settling in Cairo, where, as a journalist, he rose to become the editor at Al-Ahram Weekly, the English-language publication of Egypt’s Al-Ahram press organisation.
He spent more than 15 years with the newspaper, covering international affairs and writing about African and global politics, with a particular interest in Pan-Africanism and Africa’s place in world affairs.
He kept his nuclear family private, but he was married to an Egyptian woman with whom he had two children, now adults.
He is the older brother of Samia Nkrumah, a Ghanaian politician who previously served as Member of Parliament for Jomoro in the Western Region and chairperson of the Convention People’s Party (CPP).
His younger brother, Sekou Nkrumah, is a writer and political activist based in Ghana.
