Final answer:
The Nkrumah-led government faced economic strain from exploited cocoa farmers, political opposition due to centralization of power, accusations of corruption, pressure from colonial powers, and the challenge of balancing progress with tradition.
Step-by-step explanation:
One of the challenges faced by the Nkrumah-led government was economic strain on cocoa farmers who felt exploited as their hard-earned revenues were funneled into urban projects. This created a rift between the rural and urban populations, leading to discontent among the agricultural communities.
Another significant challenge was political opposition and regional discrepancies. The centralization of power resulted in the reduction of regional chiefs' authority, causing friction within the traditional power structures. As opposition grew, Nkrumah's reaction was to become more autocratic, leading to the imprisonment of political rivals.
The third challenge stemmed from accusations of corruption. Nkrumah's government faced claims of misusing state resources, which fuelled public dissent and ultimately contributed to his overthrow by a military coup in 1966.
Additionally, the pressure from colonial powers to retain control over African resources and markets after World War II presented external challenges for Nkrumah's government, which was asserting its newly won independence and sovereignty.
Lastly, there was an overarching challenge of balancing the dual aspirations of progress and tradition. While attempting to modernize Ghana by establishing schools, hospitals, and infrastructure, Nkrumah also had to manage the tension between forward-looking policies and traditional values and structures.