He soon became a Head Teacher but his real ambition was to persue his studies in America. This he was able to do in 1935. Studying by day and and working at night to pay his way, he gained a degree in Philosophy and Education at Pennsylvania University, then went to London to study law.

In America Nkrumah he met leading political thinkers including Marcus Garvey and W.E.Dubois and in London he became an active member of the Pan-African Movement which demanded freedom and independence for British colonies in Africa and the Caribbean.

He returned home in 1947 and with other Ghanaians set about organising opposition to British rule. After a brief period of imprisonment he launched the Convention Peoples's Party to unite Ghanaians in democratic opposition. The hard work of his supporters and the popularity of his cause ensured the Party's success and demandsbfor independence grew stronger every day.

Though they imprisoned Nkrumah again, the British were finally forced to agree to the people's demands. In 1957 Ghana became an independent state with Kwame Nkrumah its first Prime Minister.