On August 1, 1962, an assassination attempt was made on President Kwame Nkrumah in Kulungugu, Upper East Bawku. Returning from a meeting with President Maurice Yaméogo in Tenkodogo, Burkina Faso, Nkrumah's convoy stopped to greet school children at Kulungugu.
A student, Elizabeth Asantewaa, who handed him a bouquet of flower was seriously injured when the bomb exploded. Captain Samuel Buckman, Nkrumah's bodyguard, instinctively wrestled the President to the ground, saving his life. Nkrumah and Buckman sustained non-life-threatening injuries, while 55 others were injured. Nkrumah was treated for shrapnel wounds at Bawku Hospital by a British doctor.
A memorial now stands at the bombing site as a reminder of the incident that would have cost Nkrumah's life. Notably, Nkrumah survived no less than five assassination attempts on his life but was lucky to stay alive after each of them.
King Fahd Of Saudi Arabia Dies
King Fahd passed away on August 1, 2005, at the age of 84, at King Faisal Specialist Hospital in Riyadh. The announcement was made by the Minister of Information, Iyad bin Amin Madani. His funeral took place the following day.
Crown Prince Abdullah was immediately sworn in as the new King, and Prince Sultan, the Minister of Defense, was appointed as the new Crown Prince. In tribute, many Arab countries flew their flags at half-mast. King Fahd ascended the throne in June 1982, after the death of his half-brother, King Khaled. His health deteriorated after a stroke in 1995, leading to Crown Prince Abdullah taking over the regency.
Other key events on this day
1. Adolph Hitler opened the 11th Olympic Games in Berlin - 1936
2. Emperor Wilhelm II declared war on his nephew, tsar Nicolas II (WW I) - 1914
3. Operation Tidal Wave: U.S. forces attempted risky air raid on Axis oil refineries - 1943
4. Columbus first set eyes on South America and thought it was an Island - 1498
5. First World War began to escalate as major world powers entered the war front - 1914
6. Music Television was launched - 1981
7. Slavery was abolished in British Empire - 1834
8. Nigerian Immigration Department was formally established by an Act of Parliament - 1963.
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