Letter from Trinidadian Premier Eric Williams to Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah

The letter is addressed to Christiansborg Castle in Accra, Ghana. It is written fully in type and not signed by hand.

Dr. Kwame Nkrumah
Prime Minister of Ghana
Christiansborg Castle
Accra, Ghana


Dear Mr. Prime Minister,
On behalf of the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago I send you congratulations and good wishes on the Third Anniversary of your independence which we shall celebrate wihth you on March 6th. The heroic struggles, the determination, the endurance and the discipline which were shown in the attainment of your goal continues to be an inspiration to us in the West Indies who have not yet achieved the great honour and opportunity of independence but are conscious of what it signifies and hope soon to stand with you on that new storey of national attainment. Where so many of our people are of African descent, it is natural that we should take a special interest in the course that you have followed but to whatever race we belong, we watch with admiration the audacity of your perspectives and the care and energy with which you pursue them.

During the past year we were grieved at the death of one of our own sons, George Padmore. But we were heartened and uplifted by the recognition which you gave to him for the great work that he had done for the emancipation of Africa and Africans and we are proud both of his achievements and the honours which you have paid to him which we feel are honours paid to us and bind us still closer together. Please convey to the people of Ghana on our behalf our best wishes and assure them that we hope the time is not far distant when we shall be able to welcome you and other representetives of your now famous country to the celebrations of independence for a federated West Indies.


Eric Williams
Premier of Trinidad and Tobago.

Title
Letter from Trinidadian Premier Eric Williams to Ghanaian Prime Minister Kwame Nkrumah
Description
The 1960s saw large parts of Britain’s empire breaking away. Eric Williams’ letter commemorates Ghana’s independence in 1957 and sees it as a source of inspiration for Trinidad and Tobago.
Creator
Eric Williams
Location
Trinidad and Tobago
Date
1960
Collection
Independence
Source
See more details on the Senate House Library archives catalogue
Rights
Permission for reproduction provided courtesy of Erica Williams Connell.

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Item Number
7