SECRET RITUAL: Kwame Nkrumah Fasted Every Friday and Spent Hours Meditating – Chris Hesse Reveals

Every Friday, while leading a country through the demands of government, Ghana’s first president, Kwame Nkrumah, reportedly set aside time for fasting and long periods of meditation by the beach.

The routine offered a glimpse of a private side of Nkrumah that many Ghanaians may not readily associate with the political leader whose public life was defined by the struggle for independence and the pursuit of African unity.

Reverend Chris Hesse, Nkrumah’s former personal cinematographer, recalled the president’s spiritual practices in an interview with Kafui Dey, describing a regular habit of fasting and spending hours in quiet meditation.

According to Hesse, Nkrumah fasted every Friday and would spend extended periods meditating by the sea.

“He fasted every Friday,” Hesse said, adding that Nkrumah would also spend “hours meditating by the beach.”

Rev. Hesse further recalled that the practice was part of Nkrumah’s personal routine, saying the former president would “go to the beach and meditate for hours.”

“He had his own moments of silence,” Hesse said, describing how Nkrumah appeared to withdraw from the pressures of leadership during those periods.

The recollection presents a picture of a leader who, away from the demands of public office, made room for personal reflection. Hesse’s account centres on the consistency of the routine: fasting on a particular day of the week and retreating to the beach for hours of meditation.

“He was very disciplined about it,” Hesse recalled. “Friday was a day he observed.”

Rev. Hesse worked closely with Nkrumah and travelled with him on official assignments, giving him opportunities to observe aspects of the president’s life beyond public appearances. His memories provide a personal account of habits that were less visible than Nkrumah’s political activities.

“He was not always surrounded by people,” Rev. Hesse said. “There were times when he wanted to be alone and reflect.”

“He believed in the importance of discipline and reflection,” Hesse said, while recounting Nkrumah’s weekly practice.