The Gold Coast Begins Self-Government

Abstract

THE new political status of the people in Gold Coast, West Africa today is the result of continuing processes a social movement as it were with West Africans and Britishers as the major partners and participants. It can also be viewed as the results of the impact of a series of significant national and international forces and events. Some may see the political changes in the Gold Coast as moving away from and the discrediting of tribal life and the rule of the Chiefs. This, however, is only part of the picture. One can observe in most West African towns and cities many practices diffused into the culture directly from Western Civilization; yet at the same time most people in the area still adhere to a large part of the basically tribal histories, customs and traditions. Such dualism is evident in almost every phase of the life of the people during this period of transition, and will continue for a long time to come, due no doubt to a societal system of the socialization of individuals, who grow up in the deeply rooted culture, and come to internalize and cherish the great traditions of a fascinating civilization. The political roles of the Chiefs in the Gold Coast are matters for vigorous discussion. At a recent meeting of more than eight hundred delegates from the Ashanti Region of the United Ghana Farmer's Council, a resolution was adopted which asked the Asantehene (the King of Ashanti) and all paramount, divisional and sub-chiefs in Ashanti to refrain from party politics. It was thought that if the Asantehene and the other Chiefs participated in politics, this would prejudice their role as fathers and rulers of the whole people, thus endangering the prestige and culture heritage of Ashanti. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, Prime Minister of the Gold Coast and Life Chairman of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) this point of view notwithstandingin his Accra address on June 13, 1955 stated the position of his Party as being against despotism, and in favor of Constitutional Chieftaincy. He stressed the view that Chieftaincy like any other governmental authority could not afford to remain static, but must adapt itself to the dynamic conditions of the changing times. The system of Indirect Rule employed by Great Britain to govern the Gold Coast was similar to that used in Nigeria and many other British colonies. This method was opposed by West Africans, and was not looked upon with much favor by progressive colonial governmental