Africa Factbook

The relationship between Kwame Nkrumah and President John F. Kennedy was marked by both cooperation and conflict, reflecting the complex political and ideological landscape of the early 1960s. Kwame Nkrumah and President John F. Kennedy  History of the relationship between Kwame Nkrumah and John F. Kennedy. Kwame Nkrumah, the first President of Ghana, and President John F. Kennedy of the United States had a complex relationship that was influenced by both politics and personal factors. Nkrumah and Kennedy both came to power around the same time, in the early 1960s, and were leaders of countries that were trying to assert their independence and position in the world. Nkrumah was a leading figure in the Pan-African movement and advocated for African unity and socialism, while Kennedy was a strong advocate for democracy and free markets. Despite their ideological differences, Nkrumah and Kennedy had a good personal relationship.