History of Ghanaian independence

History: Ghana

From the Ghana Independence Act, 1957 to independence on 6 March 1957 and UN admission two days later.

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Published

24 September 2026

Status verified as of

18 September 2026

The Accra riots and the CPP

Riots that began in Accra in February 1948 spread to Nsawam, Koforidua, Akuse and Kumasi, causing 29 deaths and 237 further casualties, and accelerated the movement for self-government. On 12 January 1949 Kwame Nkrumah founded the Convention People's Party under the slogan "self-government, now, now, now."[1]

1948 · Protest

Accra riots, 1948

Riots that began in Accra in February 1948 and spread to Nsawam, Koforidua, Akuse and Kumasi caused 29 deaths and 237 further casualties, and led directly to Kwame Nkrumah's founding of the Convention People's Party the following year.

The 1951-56 general elections

The CPP won 34 of 38 elected seats in the 1951 general election, 72 of 104 seats in the 1954 election (the first under full adult suffrage), and 71 of 104 seats in the 1956 election, consolidating its mandate for independence.[2]

1951–1956 · Election

Gold Coast general elections, 1951-1956

The CPP, led by Kwame Nkrumah, won successive Gold Coast general elections in 1951, 1954 (the first under full adult suffrage) and 1956, consolidating the political mandate for independence.

Independence

The Ghana Independence Act, 1957, given Royal Assent on 7 February 1957, provided that the Gold Coast "shall as from that day together form part of Her Majesty's dominions under the name of Ghana," with effect from 6 March 1957.[3] Ghana became the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule.

6 March 1957 · Declaration

Independence of Ghana, 1957

The Ghana Independence Act, 1957 established the Gold Coast, together with British Togoland, as the independent dominion of Ghana with effect from 6 March 1957, making it the first sub-Saharan African country to gain independence from colonial rule.

United Nations membership

The Security Council unanimously recommended Ghana's UN membership on 7 March 1957, and the General Assembly admitted Ghana on 8 March 1957.[4][5]

8 March 1957 · Recognition

Admission of Ghana to the United Nations, 1957

The Security Council unanimously recommended Ghana's admission to the United Nations on 7 March 1957, one day after independence, and the General Assembly admitted it the following day.

Sources for this page

Each number marks a specific claim. Notes give the source, its locator and how it relates to the claim.

Claim: Riots that began in Accra in February 1948 spread to Nsawam, Koforidua, Akuse and Kumasi over several days, causing 29 deaths and 237 further casualties. The unrest accelerated the political movement for self-government, and on 12 January 1949 Kwame Nkrumah founded the Convention People's Party under the slogan "self-government, now, now, now."

What is the significance of the 1948 Accra Riots? (World History Edu) link, article text. Source record

Claim: In the 8 February 1951 Gold Coast general election, the CPP won 34 of the 38 elected legislative assembly seats. In the 15 June 1954 election, the first held under full adult suffrage, the CPP won 72 of 104 seats. In the 17 July 1956 election the CPP won 71 of 104 seats.

Gold Coast general elections, 1951, 1954 and 1956 (Wikipedia) link, Results sections. Source record

Claim: The Ghana Independence Act, 1957, given Royal Assent on 7 February 1957, provided in Section 1 that the territories of the Gold Coast "shall as from that day together form part of Her Majesty's dominions under the name of Ghana," and that "Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom shall have no responsibility for the government of Ghana or any part thereof." Section 5(2) defined "the appointed day" as "the sixth day of March, nineteen hundred and fifty-seven."

Parliament of the United Kingdom, Ghana Independence Act, 1957 (5 & 6 Eliz. 2, c. 6) (7 February 1957) link, Sections 1 and 5. Government perspective or primary official source Source record

Claim: On 7 March 1957, at its 775th meeting, the Security Council, having considered the application of Ghana, unanimously recommended to the General Assembly that Ghana be admitted to UN membership.

United Nations Security Council, Security Council resolution 124 (1957) (United Nations, 7 March 1957) link, resolution text. Source record

Claim: The General Assembly, at its 668th plenary meeting on 8 March 1957, having received the Security Council's recommendation and considered Ghana's application, "decides to admit Ghana to membership in the United Nations."

United Nations General Assembly, General Assembly resolution 1118 (XI): Admission of Ghana to membership in the United Nations (United Nations, 8 March 1957) link, operative paragraph. Source record