Stories and facts
On November 20, 1949, Kwame Nkrumah, a prominent leader of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), made a significant political move that shaped the future of Ghana's quest for independence.
Following the arrest of the "Big Six" leaders of the UGCC by British authorities, Kwame Nkrumah seized the moment to voice his discontent with the Coussey Committee's recommendations for constitutional change. The Coussey Committee, chaired by Sir Henley Coussey, was established to address growing demands for more representative government in the Gold Coast. After deliberations beginning on March 14, 1949, the committee published its report on November 7, 1949.
While it proposed greater African representation in government, it notably fell short of advocating for self-rule. This lack of progress infuriated Nkrumah, who had been educated in Britain and the United States and was deeply committed to the cause of independence.
On 20th November 1949 at a mass rally held at the West End Arena in Accra, Nkrumah officially rejected the Coussey Committee's recommendations. He announced the formation of the Ghana Representative Council (GRC) as a principal body to challenge the report and demanded the establishment of a constituent assembly to draft a constitution for immediate self-government for the Gold Coast as a British Dominion.
Nkrumah's rallying cry—"We prefer self-government in danger to servitude in tranquillity"—resonated throughout the nation, igniting a fervent campaign for independence. He called upon "all men of goodwill" to organise and mobilise for action.
The slogan "Self-government now" echoed across communities, signalling a unified demand for immediate political change. Nkrumah's rejection of the Coussey Committee's recommendations marked a pivotal moment in Ghana's struggle for independence, setting the stage for further political activism and ultimately leading to self-governance.
The timeline below highlights the key events from the recommendation of the Coussey Committee to when Ghana became a republic.
