The Big Six (Ghana)
Encyclopedia
The Big Six were six leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention
(UGCC), 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. They are pictured on the front of the Ghana cedi notes.
of Osu Alata, a suburb of Accra
, the Osu Alata Mantse, Nii Kwabena Bonne III (nicknamed Boycotthene meaning Boycott King), organized a boycott of European imports in January 1948. The aim was to get the foreign traders known as the Association of West African Merchants (AWAM) to reduce the prices of their goods. This was followed by a series of riots in early February 1948. The boycotts were scheduled to end on February 28, 1948, a day that has become significant in the history of Ghana. AWAM has become a term synonymous with cheating or profiteering in Ghana.
veterans who had been agitating for their end of service benefits following World War II at the Palladium Cinema, Accra. These veterans had fought with the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force
and had not been paid their gratuities on their return home. Dr. Nkrumah and Dr. J.B. Danquah both gave their support and encouraged the veterans in their protest over their post-war neglect.
Later on February 28, what became known as the "Christiansborg Cross-Roads shooting" occurred. Some of the second world war veterans marched to the Christiansborg Castle
, the seat of the colonial government. They intended submitting a petition to the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy
about their poor conditions,unpaid war benefits and neglect. Police Superintendent Colin Imray, a British police officer, ordered the veterans to disperse but they refused. He then ordered his men to open fire on the unarmed soldiers and when they refused, did so himself killing three of them, namely Sergeant Cornelius Frederick Adjetey, Private Odartey Lamptey and Corporal Attipoe. This led to another round of riots and looting in Accra
during which foreign (European and Asian) stores were looted. This went on for five days.
They also blamed Sir Creasy whom they called "Crazy Creasy" for the riots due to his handling of the country's problems. The Riot Act was read on March 1, 1948. A Removal Order was issued by Sir Creasy for the arrest of the six leaders of the UGCC. They were held in the remote northern part of the Gold Coast following their arrests. A commission of enquiry chaired by Mr. Aiken Watson, was set up to look into the riots. Other members of the Watson commission were Dr. Keith Murray, Mr. Andrew Dalgleish and Mr. E. G. Hanrott.
Following their incarceration, the nationalists have become known as the Big Six. Their popularity also increased. On March 8, 1948 some teachers and students demonstrated against the detention of the Big Six. The demonstrators were dismissed. On his release, Dr. Nkrumah set up a secondary school, Ghana National College, for the dismissed staff and students.
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....
(UGCC), the leading political party in the British
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...
colony of 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...
. They were detained by the colonial authorities in 1948 following disturbances leading to the killing of three World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veterans. They are pictured on the front of the Ghana cedi notes.
The Big Six
They were:- Ebenezer Ako-AdjeiEbenezer Ako-AdjeiDr. Ebenezer Ako-Adjei was a nationalist politician from Ghana. Ako-Adjei is considered to be one of the Big Six in the history of Ghanaian independence. The Big Six are arguably some of the most famous people in Ghana's fight for independence from British rule...
- founding member of the UGCC - Edward Akufo-AddoEdward Akufo-AddoEdward Akufo-Addo was a politician and lawyer in Ghana. He was one of the Big Six in the fight for Ghana's independence. He also became the Chief Justice and later President of the Republic of Ghana.-Education:...
- founding member of the UGCC and subsequently Chief Justice of GhanaChief Justice of GhanaThe Chief Justice of Ghana is the highest judge of the Supreme Court of Ghana. The Chief Justice is also the head of the Judiciary of Ghana and is responsible for its administration and supervision...
and president of GhanaPresident of GhanaThe President of Ghana is the elected head of state and head of government of Ghana. Officially styled President of the Republic of Ghana and Commander-in-Chief of the Ghanaian Armed Forces. The current President of Ghana is Prof. John Atta Mills, who took office in January... - J. B. DanquahJ. B. DanquahNana Joseph Kwame Kyeretwie Boakye Danquah was a Ghanaian statesman, pan-Africanist, scholar and historian. He played a significant role in pre and post colonial Ghana. In fact, he is credited with giving Ghana its name...
- founding member of the UGCC - Kwame NkrumahKwame NkrumahKwame 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...
- later first prime ministerPrime Minister of GhanaThe 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...
and first president of Ghana - Emmanuel Obetsebi-LampteyEmmanuel Obetsebi-LampteyEmmanuel Odarkwei Obetsebi-Lamptey was a politician in the British colony of the Gold Coast. He was one of the founders and leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention known as "The Big Six"....
- founding member of the UGCC - William Ofori AttaWilliam Ofori AttaNana William Ofori Atta was a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention and was one of "The Big Six" detained by the British colonial government in Ghana...
- founding member of the UGCC
AWAM boycott
A chief of the Ga peopleGa people
The Ga-Adangbe are an ethnic group in the West African nation of Ghana. It is part of the Dangme ethnic group. The Ga people are grouped as part of theGa–Dangme ethnolinguistic group. They speak Kwa languages...
of Osu Alata, a suburb of Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
, the Osu Alata Mantse, Nii Kwabena Bonne III (nicknamed Boycotthene meaning Boycott King), organized a boycott of European imports in January 1948. The aim was to get the foreign traders known as the Association of West African Merchants (AWAM) to reduce the prices of their goods. This was followed by a series of riots in early February 1948. The boycotts were scheduled to end on February 28, 1948, a day that has become significant in the history of Ghana. AWAM has become a term synonymous with cheating or profiteering in Ghana.
Christiansborg cross-roads shooting
On February 20, 1948, Dr. Nkrumah and Dr. J.B. Danquah met and addressed World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
veterans who had been agitating for their end of service benefits following World War II at the Palladium Cinema, Accra. These veterans had fought with the Gold Coast Regiment of the Royal West African Frontier Force
Royal West African Frontier Force
The West African Frontier Force was a multi-battalion field force, formed by the British Colonial Office in 1900 to garrison the West African colonies of Nigeria, Gold Coast, Sierra Leone and Gambia. The decision to raise this force was taken in 1897 because of concern at French colonial...
and had not been paid their gratuities on their return home. Dr. Nkrumah and Dr. J.B. Danquah both gave their support and encouraged the veterans in their protest over their post-war neglect.
Later on February 28, what became known as the "Christiansborg Cross-Roads shooting" occurred. Some of the second world war veterans marched to the Christiansborg Castle
Osu Castle
Osu Castle, also known as Fort Christiansborg or simply the Castle, is a castle located in Osu, Accra, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean's Gulf of Guinea. The first substantial fort was built by the Danish in the 1660s, though the castle has changed hands between Denmark, Portugal, the Akwamu, the...
, the seat of the colonial government. They intended submitting a petition to the Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy
Gerald Creasy
Sir Gerald Hallen Creasy KCMG, OBE was a British colonial administrator. He has served as Governor of the Gold Coast and Malta. The "Christiansborg cross-roads shooting incident" occurred while he was Governor in Ghana.-Gold Coast:...
about their poor conditions,unpaid war benefits and neglect. Police Superintendent Colin Imray, a British police officer, ordered the veterans to disperse but they refused. He then ordered his men to open fire on the unarmed soldiers and when they refused, did so himself killing three of them, namely Sergeant Cornelius Frederick Adjetey, Private Odartey Lamptey and Corporal Attipoe. This led to another round of riots and looting in Accra
Accra Riots
The Accra Riots started February 28, 1948 in Accra , when a peaceful march and protest by ex-servicemen was broken up by police, leaving several members of the group dead. Among the dead was Sergeant Adjetey, one of the group's leaders, who has since been memorialized in Accra. The ex-servicemen...
during which foreign (European and Asian) stores were looted. This went on for five days.
Arrest of the Big Six
On the same day, following these disturbances, the United GoldCoast Convention(UGCC) leaders sent a cable to the Secretary of State in London."...unless Colonial Government is changed and a new Government of the people and their Chiefs installed at the centre immediately, the conduct of masses now completely out of control with strikes threatened in Police quarters, and rank and file Police indifferent to orders of Officers, will continue and result in worse violent and irresponsible acts by uncontrolled people.
"Working Committee United Gold Coast Convention declare they are prepared and ready to take over interim Government. We ask in name of oppressed, inarticulate, misruled and misgoverned people and their Chiefs that Special Commissioner be sent out immediately to hand over Government to interim Government of Chief and People and to witness immediate calling of Constituent Assembly"
They also blamed Sir Creasy whom they called "Crazy Creasy" for the riots due to his handling of the country's problems. The Riot Act was read on March 1, 1948. A Removal Order was issued by Sir Creasy for the arrest of the six leaders of the UGCC. They were held in the remote northern part of the Gold Coast following their arrests. A commission of enquiry chaired by Mr. Aiken Watson, was set up to look into the riots. Other members of the Watson commission were Dr. Keith Murray, Mr. Andrew Dalgleish and Mr. E. G. Hanrott.
Following their incarceration, the nationalists have become known as the Big Six. Their popularity also increased. On March 8, 1948 some teachers and students demonstrated against the detention of the Big Six. The demonstrators were dismissed. On his release, Dr. Nkrumah set up a secondary school, Ghana National College, for the dismissed staff and students.
External links
- Pictures of "The Big Six"
- AfricaWithin.com
- GhanaWeb.com
- Ten Thousand Cedis note
