Pan-Africanism and African Governments Claude Ake T HE last decade has seen the proliferation of organizations and institutions which have broadened the scope of social communication between African peoples.* The sophistica- tion of a broad African perspective, which tended to be a mo- nopoly of top-level leadership, is now permeating the lower strata of African society.
Today Africa is experiencing a critical social, political and economic transition. We are emerging from colonial rule to political independence; we are immersed in a massive transition in which we are seeking new identities at personal, national and international levels.
Kwame Nkrumah remains a towering figure in African history. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s non-violent campaign of civil disobedience, he led what is now the nation of Ghana to independence in 1957. Nkrumah made Ghana a beacon of hope for not only Ghanaians but also people of African descent throughout the world.