1956 Gold Coast general election

General elections were held in the Gold Coast (soon to become Ghana) on 17 July 1956. The result was a victory for Kwame Nkrumah's Convention People's Party, which won 71 of the 104 seats.[1]

A voter receives a ballot paper from a polling assistant at Kumbungu Polling Station in the Northern Territories.

A new constitution, approved on 29 April 1954, established a cabinet composed of African ministers drawn from an all-African legislature chosen by direct election. In the elections that followed, the Convention People's Party won the majority of seats in the new Legislative Assembly.

Background

A new constitution, approved on 29 April 1954, established a cabinet composed of African ministers drawn from an all-African legislature chosen by direct election. In the elections that followed, the Convention People's Party won the majority of seats in the new Legislative Assembly. In May 1956, Prime Minister Nkrumah's government issued a white paper containing proposals for Gold Coast independence. The British Government stated it would agree to a firm date for independence if a reasonable majority for such a step were obtained in the Gold Coast Legislative Assembly after a general election.

Results

Party	Votes	%	Seats	+/-
Convention People's Party	398,141	57.1	71	–1
National Liberation Movement	145,657	20.9	12	New
Northern People's Party	72,440	10.4	15	0
Togoland Congress	20,352	2.9	2	–1
Muslim Association Party	11,111	1.6	1	0
Federation of Youth	10,745	1.5	1	New
Independents	38,811	5.6	2	–9
Invalid/blank votes		–	–	–
Total	697,257	100	104	0
Registered voters/turnout	1,392,874		–	–
Source: Nohlen et al.

Aftermath

After pro-independence parties won a convincing majority, the British government agreed to grant the colony independence. This happened on 6 March 1957, with the country renamed Ghana. Initially a constitutional monarchy with Elizabeth II as head of State, the country's democratic credentials were hampered by the Preventive Detention Act (1958). In 1960 a referendum resulted in the country becoming a republic with a presidential form of government, and in 1964 it became a one-party state. Nkrumah was eventually overthrown in 1966.

References

1. Nohlen, D, Krennerich, M & Thibaut, B (1999) Elections in Africa: A data handbook, p435 ISBN 0-19-829645-2