Professor Francis Nkrumah, First Son of Kwame Nkrumah, Passes Away at Age 89

Professor Francis Nkrumah, the eldest son of Ghana’s first President, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, has passed away at the age of 89. According to reports, Professor Nkrumah died on Sunday, June 30, 2024.

Born to Dr. Kwame Nkrumah and Madam Fanny Miller of Elmina in the Central Region, Professor Nkrumah was conceived while Dr. Nkrumah was teaching at a middle school near Elmina.

Their relationship flourished, and by the time Dr. Nkrumah returned from studying in the United Kingdom, Francis had excelled academically, having attended St. Augustine’s College.

Under the leadership of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Francis Nkrumah received a Cocobod scholarship to study medicine in Germany.

He later became the longest-serving director of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research (NMIMR), where he made significant contributions to the eradication of poliomyelitis in Africa.

Professor Nkrumah’s dedication and leadership were recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) Africa Region, which honored him for his distinguished role in poliomyelitis eradication initiatives.

He served on the Africa Regional Certification Committee (ARCC) and chaired the Regional Task Force on Immunization (TFI).

Throughout his career, Professor Francis Nkrumah remained committed to medical research and public health, leaving a lasting legacy in Ghana and across Africa.

His contributions to medicine and his exemplary service will be remembered with respect and gratitude.