WHY GHANA BECOME THE FIRST COUNTRY TO GAIN INDEPENDENCE IN AFRICA?

 Decolonization process in Gold Coast (Ghana), 

 During the 1946 Britain changed the constitution of Gold Coast which increased the number of African representatives in the Legislative Council (LEGCO) through appointing and electing. But many of them were African chiefs who regarded as the colonial agents by African elites. Example 13 were appointed by colonialist and only 5 were elected to join LEGCO.

But many African elites did not accept the decision made by Britain, and then decided to form political party which Known as United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) in 1947 under the leadership of J. B. Danquah and Kwame Nkrumah who was the secretary. The members of this political party were Lawyers, businessmen, teachers and journalist. Then colonialist decided to accept some of UGCC demands and change constitution again, this made most of the UGCC leaders to accept colonialist. However other leaders include Kwame Nkrumah did not accept the new constitution while they wanted total independence. This made them to break from UGCC and form new political party known as Convention People Party (CPP) On June 1949 the goal was ‘self-government now’. CPP widely expanded to all classes of people and Opened branches throughout the country. CPP got support through mass rallies, slogans, party dynamic paper like Accra Evening News.

They used non-violent resistances based on Mahatma Gandhi model. Within a short period of time C.P.P become the only threat to British colonial regime in Ghana, the emphasis on mass organization became the most important. In 1940s there was a contradiction in Ghana where the colonial government adopted a policy of cutting down sick trees being ruined by a swollen shoot disease to save the healthy ones. The people misunderstood the intentions of the government, seeing it as a calculated attempt to ruin the farmers. But, British tried to find the causes of unrest.

 Also, the Constitution of 1951 where enlarged legislative council but majority Africans was Chiefs. Nkrumah reacted to the constitution denounced new constitution as bogus and fraudulent/fake. Then Nkrumah’s response was to organize positive action like general strike and various boycotts which led imprisonment of Nkrumah and his supporters. He demanded control of the colonial legislatures which were the centers of political power in their territory pressing on the colonial administrators to introduce democratic to the people’s representative in those LEGCOS. 

                                                                                               

Also demand majority rule and granting of political independence immediately as soon as possible. They sent petitions to the metropolitan to back up their demands, organized mass demonstrations, strikes and boycotts and used every type of propaganda to condemn the colonial system.  They also denounced and attacked oppressive laws and demanded their removal but in order to convince the Europeans that they weren’t small group of agitators but a group of leaders who had support of their people, the educated elite leaders sought and bought the support of peasants which were cooperative unions and trade unions.

After the Nkrumah released from Prison, he was given position as the leader of government busses. In the election of 1954 the party known as NLM was formed to oppose CPP. The new party NLM opposed CPP idea of unity, due to this opposition made colonialist call another election on July 1956. CPP won the election. The result of the election made colonial government to grant independent in Gold Coast under the leadership of Kwame Nkrumah on 06 march 1957. This made Ghana to be the first African country to get independent. Then from that day Gold Cost changed its name into Ghana.

The reasons made Ghana to be the first country to gain independence;

Presence of few white settlers: this made Ghana to be the first country to gain independence due to the fact that British had few white settlers in the country so that it was easy to grant independence to the Africans without huge lost to compare to other countries which had many white settlers and much investment.

Role played by NKwame Nkrumah: Ghana achieved independence earlier and through peacefully means, due to the influence of Nkrumah who was able to promote unity and solidarity among the Ghana people. Example Nkrumah was able to unite African people to fight for their independence through political party which known as CCP.

Role played by Pan Africa nationalism: in 1945 Pan-African Congress was held in Manchester, it was in that meeting when African students in London played a great role in the organizations and running of this congress. Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana was one the secretaries. The congress demanded complete independence. Therefore Nkrumah organize his people earlier to fight for complete independence.

The uses of common language: Ghana become the first country to attain independent in Africa due to the uses of common language in the country, so it was easy to organize them as the nation and fight for their independent. Example majority of Ghana people used English.

 Clear and strong policies of CCP, this made CCP to attain great support from the mass, and made Ghana to be the first country to gain independence. Example CCP demanded complete independence from Britain.