Gold Coast legislative election, 1951
Encyclopedia
Elections for the Legislative Assembly
were held for the first time in the Gold Coast
on 8 February 1951. Although elections had been held for the Legislative Council since 1925, the Council did not have complete control over the legislation, and the voting franchise was limited to councils of chiefs. This was the first election to be held in Africa
under universal suffrage
.
), the Coussey Committee was commissioned by the United Kingdom
government. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the Executive Council an African majority, and created an 84-member Legislative Assembly, 38 of which were to be elected by the people and 46 by traditional councils.
Nkrumah's aide and later Finance Minster Komla Agbeli Gbedemah
is credited with organizing the entire campaign while he (Nkrumah) was still in Fort James prison, detained by the colonial government. Nkrumah duly won the Accra Central Municipal seat.
's Convention People's Party
won 34 of the 38 elected seats in the assembly, claiming all five seats and nearly 95% of the vote in urban areas; Nkrumah himself winning the Accra Central seat with 22,780 of the 23,122 votes cast. In rural areas the CPP won 29 of the 33 seats, taking around 72% of the vote. The main opposition, the United Gold Coast Convention
, fared badly, winning only two seats, and was disbanded following the elections. Former members of the UGCC went on to form the Ghana Congress Party
(which later became the United Party
). The elections were also contested by the National Democratic Party.
The CPP was also supported in the Assembly by 22 of the indirectly elected members, and thus held 56 of the 84 seats.
the following year after a constitutional amendment.
Another new constitution was promulgated in 1954, followed by elections
the same year, also won by the CPP. Following another convincing election victory
by Nkrumah's party in 1956, Gold Coast became the first sub-Saharan Africa
n state to gain independence (aside from apartheid South Africa
) on 6 March 1957, changing its name to Ghana
.
Parliament of Ghana
The Parliament of Ghana is the legislative body of the Ghanaian government.-History:Legislative representation in Ghana dates back to 1850, when the country was a British colony. The body, called the Legislative Council, was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive...
were held for the first time in the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
on 8 February 1951. Although elections had been held for the Legislative Council since 1925, the Council did not have complete control over the legislation, and the voting franchise was limited to councils of chiefs. This was the first election to be held in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
under universal suffrage
Universal suffrage
Universal suffrage consists of the extension of the right to vote to adult citizens as a whole, though it may also mean extending said right to minors and non-citizens...
.
Background
Amongst growing calls for self-governance, such as the 1948 Accra Riots and unrest (which led to the arrest of the Big SixThe Big Six (Ghana)
The Big Six were six leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention , the leading political party in the British colony of the Gold Coast. They were detained by the colonial authorities in 1948 following disturbances leading to the killing of three World War II veterans...
), the Coussey Committee was commissioned by the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government. Its report led to the 1951 constitution, which gave the Executive Council an African majority, and created an 84-member Legislative Assembly, 38 of which were to be elected by the people and 46 by traditional councils.
Nkrumah's aide and later Finance Minster Komla Agbeli Gbedemah
Komla Agbeli Gbedemah
Komla Agbeli Gbedemah was a Ghanaian politician. He was also the Minister for Finance in the Nkrumah government from 1954 to 1961. He was popularly called "Afro Gbede".-Political career:...
is credited with organizing the entire campaign while he (Nkrumah) was still in Fort James prison, detained by the colonial government. Nkrumah duly won the Accra Central Municipal seat.
Results
Kwame NkrumahKwame 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...
's Convention People's Party
Convention People's Party
The Convention People's Party is a socialist political party in Ghana, based on the ideas of former President Kwame Nkrumah.The CPP was formed in 1949 by Kwame Nkrumah to campaign for the independence of the Gold Coast. It ruled Ghana from 1957 to 1966...
won 34 of the 38 elected seats in the assembly, claiming all five seats and nearly 95% of the vote in urban areas; Nkrumah himself winning the Accra Central seat with 22,780 of the 23,122 votes cast. In rural areas the CPP won 29 of the 33 seats, taking around 72% of the vote. The main opposition, the United Gold Coast Convention
United Gold Coast Convention
The United Gold Coast Convention was a political party whose aim was to bring about Ghanaian independence from British rule after the Second World War....
, fared badly, winning only two seats, and was disbanded following the elections. Former members of the UGCC went on to form the Ghana Congress Party
Ghana Congress Party
The Ghana Congress Party was founded in May 1952 by Kofi Busia who also its leader. The party was formed by dissatisfied former Convention People's Party members and and others from the United Gold Coast Convention , which was disbanded after a poor performance in the 1951 elections. The party...
(which later became the United Party
United Party (Ghana)
The United Party was the main opposition party in the First Republic of Ghana. It was the only opposition party throughout its existence from 1957 until 1964 when Ghana became a one party state.-Formation:...
). The elections were also contested by the National Democratic Party.
The CPP was also supported in the Assembly by 22 of the indirectly elected members, and thus held 56 of the 84 seats.
Aftermath
After winning the Accra Central seat, Nkrumah was released from prison, and was appointed "Leader of Government Business", before becoming the country's first Prime MinisterPrime 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...
the following year after a constitutional amendment.
Another new constitution was promulgated in 1954, followed by elections
Gold Coast legislative election, 1954
Elections for the Legislative Assembly were held for the second time in the Gold Coast on 15 June 1954. They were won by Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party, which took 71 of the 104 seats.-Background:...
the same year, also won by the CPP. Following another convincing election victory
Gold Coast legislative election, 1956
Elections for the Legislative Assembly were held in the Gold Coast on 17 July 1956. They were won by Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party, which took 71 of the 104 seats.There were around 1,390,000 registered voters...
by Nkrumah's party in 1956, Gold Coast became the first sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa
Sub-Saharan Africa as a geographical term refers to the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara. A political definition of Sub-Saharan Africa, instead, covers all African countries which are fully or partially located south of the Sahara...
n state to gain independence (aside from apartheid South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
) on 6 March 1957, changing its name to Ghana
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...
.