Stories and facts
In the aftermath of World War II, the Gold Coast, a British colony, grappled with the unmet expectations of its returning soldiers.
These men, who had served alongside Allied forces, found themselves sidelined upon their return, their sacrifices seemingly forgotten by the colonial administration. The end-of-service benefits they were promised remained unpaid, fueling resentment and discontent.
Against this backdrop of simmering frustration, February 20, 1948, marked a pivotal moment. Two prominent figures in the Gold Coast's political landscape, Dr Kwame Nkrumah and Dr J.B. Danquah of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) convened at the Palladium Cinema in Accra to address the growing grievances of these World War II veterans.
Both Nkrumah and Danquah lent their support to the veterans, urging them to persist in their protest against post-war neglect. This act of solidarity served as a catalyst, amplifying the veterans' voices and adding weight to their demands.
The veterans, organised and determined, sought economic compensation, pensions, employment, and social readjustment for their wartime service. They had marched against the government they had defended just three years prior, demanding "independence, a good living, and good pay".
The events of February 20th foreshadowed a more significant eruption of discontent. Just eight days later, on February 28th, the "Christianborg Cross-Roads Shooting" occurred. This event, a turning point in the Gold Coast's struggle for independence, highlighted the deep-seated tensions between the colonial government and its people. The march by unarmed ex-servicemen agitating for their benefits as veterans of World War II ended in bloodshed.
The convergence of Nkrumah and Danquah, the veterans' plight, and the subsequent unrest served as a crucial prelude to the Gold Coast's eventual independence. The war had changed the demographics of the Gold Coast, concentrating workers in large towns and cities. The veterans' collective action and the support they garnered laid bare the inadequacies of colonial rule and fueled the burgeoning nationalist movement.
Explore the collection below to learn more about the events that took place in subsequent years after this.
