Kwame Nkrumah was the notable figure who led the independence movement in Africa's Gold Coast, which became Ghana. Nkrumah emerged as a prominent leader in the 1940s, advocating for self-governance and fighting against British colonial rule. His activism and organizational efforts culminated in the successful push for independence, achieved on March 6, 1957, making Ghana the first sub-Saharan African nation to gain independence. As the prime minister and later president, Nkrumah aimed to promote pan-Africanism and socialism, influencing many subsequent liberation movements across the continent while emphasizing unity and self-determination for African nations.