Evening star., 1960-12-08


ed for some years. with consid-
cradle cause. The Ghanaian
president admits to having
toyed with communism when
he was a college student in the
United States as a means Of
learning the techniQues of po-
litical organization.
Friendly to Reds
He admits to having been on
friendly terms with leading
British Communists while in
London after World War II.
Mr.. Nkrumah admits to hav-
ing had an unsigned Commu-
mist Party membership card IN
his possession when arrested
by the British Che was later
convicted of sedition, for which
he served IA months) in late
1949.
He describes himself in his
autobiography as a Christian
MARKHAM Socialist.
Since Ghana became inde-
pendent in 1857. more than one
British cryptic Communist has
found employment in his re-
gime and Ghanaians Of similar
sympathies have been appoint
ed to important posts.
None Of this, of course,
proves conclusively that Mr..
Nkrumah is a Communist or
that his country is a part OF
the Soviet bloc.
Reds on the Scene
But if this is not the case
now, the situation is deteriorat-
ing rapidly. The first sight one
sees on arriving in Ghana is
six Ilyushin transports parked
at the Accra airport.
They were part Of Russia's S
Congo task force and 1t is
significant that Soviet men
and materials came here to
regroup after they were ex-
PEELED from Leopoldville by Col
Mobutu.
Ghana has purchased these
six nyushins and negotiations
are pending for the acquisition
Of nine others. The Soviets will
supply air and ground crews.
If the purchase Of the addi-
tional Ilyushins goes through
commercial aviation in Ghana
will become the province of the
Russians.
At least 400 pilots and tech
nicians are expected to be
brought in. The next step will
be a Soviet take-over Of
Ghana's infant air force.
Soviet Trade Deal
At Accra's swank govern.
ment-owned Ambassador Hotel
Russian has become almost
second language and Soviet
trade delegations and technical
missions have taken over many
Of the city's other hotel rooms
In August, Russia granted
Ghana a $40 million long-tern
credit to defray Soviet expenses
under a technical cooperation
agreement. Russians are pros
pecting for minerals, building
industrial plants. organizinl
model state farms" and be
ginning work on a hydroelectri,
project.
The Soviets have a perma
nent aid prominent trade ex
hibition on the ground floor o
the quasi-governmental Coco
Marketing Board building an
Russian automobiles are nov
being offered for sale in Accrs
Barter trade deals, unde
which Russia and other East
ern bloc countries will provid
Ghana with machinery. trans
port equipment, rolled stee
petroleum products and build
ing materials in exchange fo
cocoa and other agriculture
products, have been concluded
1t is more likely that Chan
will receive Czech arms an
perhaps Russian MICS befol
too long.
Power Scheme
On the domestic front, Chan
has announced that she II
tends gradually to convert to
socialist economy. althoug
some exceptions probably vi
be made for projects whic
otherwise could not be finance
An example Of this sort I
enterprise is the Volta Riv
hyroelectric scheme. The Wor
Bank. the United States ar
Britain have agreed to he
Ghana finance the $3.50 millic
dam if private financing can
found for a smelter whic
would use the power to mani
facture aluminium.
An international consortiu
of which Kaiser Corp. is ;
important member has cor
to terms with Ghana in rega
to the smelter but has not y
raised the money.
Should the financing
forthcoming -a and signs q
that it will be-bids will be a
cepted for the construction
the dam.
Neutral for Russia
There is more than an ev
chance that Communist CO
tractors will underbid tn
Western competitors, thus pl
ting ,the United States a
Britain in the uncomfortal
position of either financing
Communist propaganda schel
or Of backing down. whi
would be a major blow
United States prestige in Afri
Mr.. Nkrumah maintains