To His Excellency Kwame Nkrumah, President of the Republic of Ghana, Chairman and General Secretary of the Convention People’s Party:

First of all, I express my utmost indignation at the despicable and shameless criminal act by which the enemies of the Ghanaian people have once again attempted to assassinate Your Excellency, and at the same time I feel boundless joy at your safe escape from danger. Please accept my most cordial condolences and those of the Chinese people.

The repeated assassination plots and schemes carried out by the imperialists and reactionaries against the people’s leaders and prominent statesmen of African countries show that they are not reconciled to their failures in Africa and will never voluntarily quit the stage of history. Whether in the past, at present, or in the future, the imperialists and reactionaries will always do everything possible to obstruct and undermine the cause of independence and progress of the peoples of Africa. Facts have already proved, and will continue to prove, that the frenzied struggles of the imperialists and reactionaries can only make the peoples of Africa heighten their vigilance, stand more firmly, and fight with greater determination against imperialism and old and new colonialism, in defence of national independence and for the prosperity and progress of their own countries.

The Chinese people will forever support the just struggle of the Ghanaian people and the peoples of all African countries. I wish the Republic of Ghana new achievements in every field under Your Excellency’s leadership. I wish the peoples of the African countries strengthened unity and victorious advance on the basis of opposing imperialism and old and new colonialism.

Once again, I extend my best wishes to you!

Mao Zedong

January 9, 1964