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.

1956 Gold Coast general election

17 July 1956
All 104 seats in the Legislative Assembly 53 seats needed for a majority
First party Second party Third party   NPP NLM Leader Kwame Nkrumah Simon Diedong Dombo J. B. Danquah Party CPP NPP NLM Last election 72 seats 15 seats – Seats won 71 15 12 Seat change 1 12 Popular vote 391,817 68,709 145,657 Percentage 57.10% 10.39% 20.89%

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	57.10	71	–1
	National Liberation Movement	145,657	20.89	12	New
	Northern People's Party	72,440	10.39	15	0
	Togoland Congress	20,352	2.92	2	–1
	Muslim Association Party	11,111	1.59	1	0
	Federation of Youth	10,745	1.54	1	New
	Independents	38,811	5.57	2	–9
Total		697,257	100.00	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.

See also

• List of MLAs elected in the 1956 Gold Coast general election