Ghanaian constitutional referendum, 1960
Encyclopedia
A constitutional referendum was held in Ghana
on 27 April 1960. The main issue was a change in the country's status from a constitutional monarchy
with Elizabeth II
as head of state, to a republic with a presidential system
of government.
There were 2,098,651 voters registered for the referendum.
were held alongside the referendum, which were won by the incumbent Prime Minister
, Kwame Nkrumah
. He was inaugurated on 1 July 1960, replacing Governor-General
William Hare
as head of state.
Four years later, another referendum
strengthened the president's powers and turned the country into a one-party state (with an official result of 99.91% in support).
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
on 27 April 1960. The main issue was a change in the country's status from a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy is a form of government in which a monarch acts as head of state within the parameters of a constitution, whether it be a written, uncodified or blended constitution...
with Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
as head of state, to a republic with a presidential system
Presidential system
A presidential system is a system of government where an executive branch exists and presides separately from the legislature, to which it is not responsible and which cannot, in normal circumstances, dismiss it....
of government.
There were 2,098,651 voters registered for the referendum.
Results
| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
| For | 1,008,740 | 88.47% |
| Against | 131,425 | 11.53% |
| Total | 1,140,165 | 100% |
| Source: African Elections database | ||
Aftermath
Presidential electionsGhanaian presidential election, 1960
Presidential elections were held for the first time in Ghana on 27 April 1960. The elections were held alongside a referendum on creating an executive presidency...
were held alongside the referendum, which were won by the incumbent Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Ghana
The Prime Minister of Ghana was the head of government of Ghana from 1957 to 1960 and again from 1969 to 1972.-History of the office:The country's first leader and Prime Minister was Kwame Nkrumah of the Convention People's Party...
, Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
. He was inaugurated on 1 July 1960, replacing Governor-General
Heads of state of Ghana
Prior to independence in 1957, Ghana was known as the British colony of Gold Coast. Before then it had been divided among a number of states, by far the largest of which was the Ashanti Empire, whose rulers were known as the Asantehene....
William Hare
William Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel
William Francis Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel GCMG, PC , styled Viscount Ennismore between 1924 and 1931, was a British peer and Labour politician...
as head of state.
Four years later, another referendum
Ghanaian constitutional referendum, 1964
A constitutional referendum was held in Ghana on 31 January 1964. The proposed amendments to the constitution would turn the country into a one-party state and increase the powers of President Kwame Nkrumah...
strengthened the president's powers and turned the country into a one-party state (with an official result of 99.91% in support).