Stories and facts
The 1960 Ghanaian presidential election was a pivotal event in the country’s history, marking its transition from a constitutional monarchy under British dominion to a republic. Ghana gained independence from British colonial rule on March 6, 1957, becoming the first African nation to achieve this milestone.
However, it remained a Commonwealth realm with Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, then Prime Minister, advocated for Ghana to become a republic with a president as the head of state, thereby severing its remaining colonial ties.
The election was held alongside a referendum to adopt a new republican constitution. Two candidates vied for the presidency: Dr Kwame Nkrumah, representing the Convention People's Party (CPP), and Joseph Boakye Danquah, a founding member of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and a key opposition figure.
Nkrumah promoted a socialist path, African unity, and centralized governance, while Danquah championed democratic freedoms and criticized Nkrumah’s centralization policies.
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah won the election decisively, securing approximately 89% of the votes. This overwhelming victory reflected his immense popularity and the CPP’s dominance in Ghanaian politics. The referendum to adopt the new constitution also passed with substantial support from the electorate.
On July 1, 1960, Ghana officially became a republic, with Kwame Nkrumah assuming the role of its first president. The new constitution granted the president extensive powers, which Nkrumah used to consolidate his leadership.
While his transformative policies and vision for African unity earned him widespread admiration, his governance style, characterised by the suppression of dissent and the eventual establishment of a one-party state in 1964, remained a subject of controversy.
This election solidified Nkrumah’s position as a monumental figure in Ghanaian and African history.
The timeline below highlights significant dates and events from the 1960 presidential elections.
