ACCRA, Ghana -- Africa gave birth today to its first native Negro nation, Ghana, a former British colony that won freedom through brotherhood, not by guns.
The 4.7 million people of the new state danced, sang, prayed and shouted in celebration while their premier wept with joy in a ceremony that mingled brass bands and jungle drums.
At the last stroke of midnight the. British Union Jack was lowered and the Ghana flag -- a gold and red-green standard with a single black star -- was raised in its place.
New Flag Raised
American-educated Premier Kwame Nkrumah missed the flag ceremony to attend the dissolution of the last British Gold Coast colonial parliament. The first parliament of independent Ghana took its place.
U.S. Vice President Richard M. Nixon and his wife, Pat, were among the delegates of 72 nations who were on hand for the historic occasion.
As the parliamentary ceremony ended, jubilant followers hoisted Nkrumah to their shoulders and carried him through the tens of thousands of natives that thronged the streets and the polo" grounds.
"Struggle Is Ended"
The premier, who worked his way through Pennsylvania's Lincoln University like many an American college boy, spoke to his people:
"At last the long struggle is ended. Ghana is forever free. The black man has come into his own in Africa."
Ths crowds of natives in their gay and flowing togas, the chiefs standing under their umbrellas of rank, the hundreds of dancers sweating in the spotlights burst into a mighty roar.
Then suddenly there was quiet for one minute of silent prayer.
A band broke the stillness with the new Ghana national anthem -- "Ghana, arise, an independent nation . .. won by your brotherhood, not by your guns..."
