Accra: The 1966 military coup that overthrew Ghana’s first president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, had repercussions beyond the political realm, significantly impacting the personal lives of many Ghanaian students abroad. Among them was Professor Joseph Bediako Asare, who would later become Ghana’s Chief Psychiatrist. While a medical student in Poland, Asare’s life took an unexpected turn, leading him into a marriage of necessity.
According to Ghana Web, Professor Asare recounted in an interview with broadcaster Kafui Dey how Nkrumah had sent him and other young Ghanaians to Eastern Europe for education, with plans for them to return and contribute to national development. He chose to study medicine in Poland, driven by Nkrumah’s educational vision.
However, the abrupt removal of Nkrumah from power on February 24, 1966, during his visit to Vietnam, disrupted these plans. The new military regime halted overseas scholarship allowances, leaving students like Asare in a dire financial situation.
Asare described the uncertainty that followed the coup, stating, “This was my first year in medical school, and the coup happened. We never knew that the government that was going to come would stop our allowances for coming. So, for about two years, nothing was happening, nothing was coming.”
Faced with financial challenges, Asare’s circumstances led him to marry a Polish woman who supported him during his studies. He shared, “So, I was forced to marry. I had a child in 1967 as a young medical student and she was looking after me. My daughter is still there.”
Despite these difficulties, Asare persevered and completed his medical education. He expressed gratitude for the mentorship he received from local doctors, saying, “I went to a district hospital where I finished. There were many doctors, and the doctors were ready to teach, so they gave me accommodation. I was always there, and they taught me a lot.”
Source: Ghana Web