1956 British Togoland status plebiscite

A referendum on the territory's status was held in British Togoland on 9 May 1956.[1] Since World War I the territory had been a League of Nations mandate, then a United Nations Trust Territory under British control. The referendum offered residents the choice of remaining a Trust Territory until neighbouring French Togoland had decided upon its future, or becoming part of soon-to-be Ghana. The Togoland native and dominant ethnic group, the Togolese Ewe people, Togolese Ewe-based Togoland Congress campaigned against and preferred amalgamation with French Togoland.

The eventual result was reported to be 58% in favour of integration, although in the southern part of the territory 55% of voters had voted for separation from Gold Coast and continued UN Trusteeship.[2][3]

Results

Choice	Votes	%
Integration with Ghana	93,095	58.0
UN Trusteeship	67,492	42.0
Invalid/blank votes		–
Total	160,587	100
Registered voters/turnout	194,230	82.7
Source: United Nations

References

1. Krennerich, Michael (1999). "Ghana". In Nohlen, Dieter; Thibaut, Bernard; Krennerich, Michael (eds.). Elections in Africa: A Data Handbook. New York City: Oxford University Press. p. 423. doi:10.1093/0198296452.003.0023. ISBN 978-0-19-829645-4.
2. Tsagli, Philip (2011-07-21). "Ghana National Reconciliation Commission: The Historical Context: Chapter Three :3.1.2.4". ghana.gov.gh. Government of Ghana. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2020-02-20. This complicated situation led the General Assembly of the United Nations to decide in December 1955, that the peoples of the Trust Territory should be given a chance in a plebiscite, to determine if they wished to be integrated with the Gold Coast upon its attainment of independence, or if they wished to remain separate until a decision was taken in respect of the French-administered part. The plebiscite was held on 9th May 1956 for the peoples of the territories to decide whether to integrate with the Gold Coast or to remain separate. An overall majority of 58% voted for integration. However, in the south where the Togoland Congress had campaigned vigorously, there was a 55% majority in favour of separation. Consequently the decision to integrate the TVT with the Gold Coast at its independence was a minority decision as far as those in the south of the Trust Territories were concerned.
3. Espinosa y Prieto, Eduardo (1956-09-05). "Report of the United Nations Plebiscite Commissioner for the Trust Territory of Togoland under British Administration:The Togoland Unification Problem And The Future Of The Trust Territory Of Togoland Under British Administration" (PDF). United Nations Digital Library System: 183–184.