Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day is observed in Ghana every September 21, commemorating the birth anniversary of Kwame Nkrumah, the first prime minister and president of Ghana, who played a pivotal role in the country's independence from British colonial rule. Nkrumah was born on September 21, 1909, in the Gold Coast and became a significant political figure after returning from the United States in 1947, where he initially served as the General Secretary of the United Gold Coast Convention. He later founded the Convention People’s Party and became the first Prime Minister of the Gold Coast in 1951, leading the nation to independence in 1957. The day was originally celebrated as Founder’s Day, but in 2017 it was renamed to Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Day to honor his contributions while acknowledging that he is not viewed as the sole founder of the nation. This public holiday serves to recognize Nkrumah's legacy and the broader context of Ghana's independence movement.