St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-11-10
Aid To Ghono
voIta Dam BY
US. In Doubt
port Bank loan.


US. In Doubt
port Bank loan.
Thus, proposed U. S. participa-
ton would total $133, 100000 al
though that figure could rise to
$147, 100000 if the project costs
rose to the maximum "over-run"
estimated by the engineers.
Previously, the United States
had approved the project as econ
omically sound. However, recent
events repeatedly taking place in
Ghana had caused the Washington
government to send a us. mission
to take "a last final hard look"
U. S. Dragging Feet
Sources in Washington said the
us. was dragging its feet on final
approval of the project because
of President Nkrumah's political
activity. NlIrumah was charged
with being bitterly critical of us.
policy at the Belgrade conference
of non-aigned nations. Washington
sources also said that the Ghana
president appeared to sympathize
with, if not support, the Russian
position on many world issues, in
Guiding Berlin.
However, it might be noted that
President Nkrumah went to Mos
COW as the Belgrade conference
closed to appeal to Premier Nil1ita
Khrushchev, with Indian Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, urging
him to meet with President Ken
nedy to ease the cold war tensions.
Later, Nl1rumah sent Khrushchev
a message asking him to abandon
plans to test the 50-megaton bomb.
'Ghana Cooperative
Randall, a resident of Winnetl1a,
Ill, said on his departure from
Accra:
The Ghana government has
been very cooperative and made
all the facts and figures available
to me-"
President Kennedy is expected
to decide whether to approve the
loan on the basis of the missions
report concerning Ghana's political
and economic situation. Some OBJ
servers have said that the second
look" by the us. should not cause
any alarm on Nkrumah's part. 1t is
held unlikely that United States
aid will be held off.
Other observers have said that
Nkrumah's alleged sympathetic
actions toward the Soviets and the
recent removal from office of many
high Ghanaian officials, including
those who favored closer ties with
the West, might change the us
position.
Meanwhile, in the United States
American Negroes have expressed
interest in the Volta project. Be,
cause of its high-level economic
aspects, Americans Of African des
cent are in sympathy with Ghana
since it is a black nation trying t
improve its economic position.
Support Nkrumah
President Nkrumah has friends
among the Negro community who
have sought to boost the Volta
project, beginning as far back as
three years ago.
NY. Times Supports Grant
On the matter of U. s. partici
patton in the Ghana project, the
New York Times said:
1T is evident that President
Nkrumah's performance in Bel
grade has made some in the West
wonder about the reality Of hi!
claims to neutralism; but 1t would
be self-defeating for decisions IL
Washington regarding Ghana to b
based upon pique over NItrumah''
foreign policy announcements IL
Belgrade or over his plans to speed
up Specialization of Ghana's econ
omy. The United States does MOI
seek or certainly should mo-
seek - to dictate either Ghana'!
foreign policy or the shape of it!
domestic institutions. If Ghana de
sires to base its economic develop
ment upon socialism that is tina
country's business, and there may
well be no alternative in view o.
the lack Of private capital and o.
competent entrepreneurs there.
"Ghana's developing policy Is
admittedly, making it look more