Assess the role of the Convention Peoples Party (CPP) in the decolonisation of Gold Coast.

· Identification of CPP

· Definition of decolonisation

· Analyse the role of CPP and other factors in decolonising Gold Coast

· Standpoint required

· CPP was a mass political party formed in 1949 by Nkrumah, Gbedemah, and Y. K Djin etc with a major objective of struggling-for independence. It was a break away from United Gold Coast Convention.

· It recruited into its force various categories of people in Gold Coast.

· CPP identified with People's problems.

· The party used constitutional means in independence struggle.

· In order to attract people to their side, CPP used slogans. For example, there was "Positive Action', 'Freedom and Self-Government Now', 'Forward Ever, Backward Never' etc. These became catchwords and by pulling crowds of people to CPP, nationalism in Gold Coast was magnified.

· There was utilization freedom of the press by CPP.

· CPP took part in the 1951 elections in preparation for independence.

· CPP began carrying out reforms as a way of preparing Ghana for independence eg it built roads, a railway line, the Bank of Gold Coast

· CPP participated in the 1954 elections. But due to rivalry for powers other parties emerged.

· CPP occupied the vacant position left behind by colonialists.

· Other factors

· The role of United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) must not be minimized in the struggle for Gold Coast independence.

· The size of Ghana also contributed to the decolonisation of Ghana.

· Colonial education provided yet another factor. It produced elite who championed the struggle for independence

· The presence of a relatively sound economy helped break the colonial yoke.

· The decolonisation of Ghana was further attributed to the role of World War II.

· The Manchester Conference of 1945 should not go unmentioned.

· India's independence achievement in 1947 set the pace for the collapse of imperialism in Ghana.

· Disgruntled farmers served a great role in unseating colonialism.

· Agricultural development worked in favour of Gold Coast independence.

· The good communication system

QUESTION: Assess the impact of Ghana's attainment of independence on decolonisation and Pan Africanism.

· Definition of decolonisation and Pan Africanism

· Analyse the positive and negative impact of Ghana's independence on decolonization and Pan Africanism.

· Standpoint required.

· Pan Africanism is an ideology that emphasizes unity of Africans wherever they are. On March 6th 1957, Africa witnessed the triumph of nationalism when the 1st black independent state emerged, under Kwame Nkrumah's CPP, ready to exert an electrifying effect on decolonization and Pan Africanism.

· Positively, Ghana's independence became a source of inspiration to colonial Africa. What many had thought impossible had happened; a Negro-African government had come into being determined to assert that Africans could govern themselves.

· Ghana's Nkrumah became a spokesman of the colonised states- Having challenged the British rule, he saw himself as a revolutionary leader destined to play an even greater role in Africa.

· Ground was laid for breakdown of the British Empire by Ghana's sovereignity. In 1957, after a halt in decolonisation under Winston Churchill's second government, Britain extended to Malaya and to Gold Coast.

· The success of Ghandism in Ghana inspired African countries. Ghana got independence through constitutional means.

· Ghana provided support to independence movements. Nkrumah invited Douglas Rogers, a personal friend and" liberal Briton to Ghana.

· Ghana’s independence achievement partly led to independence achievement in French Guinea.

· In addition, after his election as Guinea's president in January 1961, like Nkrumah, Sekou Toure declared that Africa should not give up its fight for independence till the continent had been freed from all forms of foreign influence.

· Ghana warned Africans against neo colonialism.

· Ghana became a springboard for African nationalists to call for freedom and unity.

· Ghana suggested the idea of United States of Africa. Ghana viewed that in order to make Africa strong on the international scene, it was necessary to unite African states.

· Ghana formed political unions as part of implementing the idea of United States of Africa.

· Ghana defended the policy of Non Alignment. It should be recalled that Ghana, before independence, had participated, as an observer, in the Bandung Conference where the idea was conceived.

· Ghana opposed the Katanga secession. In 1960, Katanga seceded from the rest of Congo under Moise Tshombe.

· Ghana became one of the founder members of OAU.

· Negatively, Ghana failed to become a member of the OAU Liberation Committee. This is because Ghana had rejected the appointment of a Secretary General.

· Ghana made vigorous attacks on Pan African movements because of her obsession with a Union government. It was critical of Nyerere's proposal to form the East African Federation.

· Ghana's idea of USA failed to pick up. The idea was rejected by African states for example Egypt, Liberia, Nigeria etc which viewed the idea with suspicion.

· Ghana began making claims on other states for example Ghana declared that Togoland should become the 7th region of Ghana hence conflicting with Togoland.

· Peoples Conference in Accra Nkrumah's appeal to the delegates to destroy such colonial boundaries and have them redrawn was rejected.

· Many African countries accused Ghana of subversion. It was claimed that up to his overthrow in 1966, Nkrumah was granting asylum and support to opposition groups and political desidents who left their countries to plot subversion to overthrow their governments.