The CPP was formed in 1949 by Kwame Nkrumah and Y.K. Djin as a break away group from the U.G.C.C. It was radical and soon became more popular than its mother - the U.G.C.C. Its aims were to fight for Gold Coast's independence, put an end to oppression, exploitation, unemployment and inflation - In short, to improve the living standards of the people in a free and independent Ghana.

It recruited a number of disgruntled but militant youths, mainly from Accra's and Kumasi's verandahs. It also recruited farmers, ex-service men, traders, elites etc. Hence it became a mass political party. Its boss- Nkrumah, started a newspaper- the Accra Evening News, which sensitised the masses about the way forward. It transmitted hostile propaganda against colonialists and called upon all the peoples of Gold coast to unite against colonialists.

Better mobilization

The CPP coined revolutionary slogans such as "Self government Now", "Forward Ever, Back ward never"-', "Seek Ye the political Kingdom first and the rest will follow," etc. All these aroused peoples' nationalistic sentiments.

The CPP identified itself with the peoples' grievances for example It condemned the payment of low prices to Cocoa farmers, the cutting down of Cocoa plants without compensation, the slow pace of Africanizing Gold Coast" politics etc.

It pointed out the loopholes of the Coussey report of 1949. To the U.G.C.C. , the British were promoting the old illiterate chiefs as a way of prolonging their colonial rule in Gold Coast.

CPP had a number of journalists who covered all topics of oppression and exploitation in all comers of the country. This led to the arrest of three of its journalists- but this didn't scare the party members.

Nkrumah adopted Ghandism or positive action as a method of fighting for independence. All the CPP members followed suit. Hence boycotts, strikes and demonstrations became rampant in 1950 leading to the imprisonment of CPP leaders, the banning of the Accra Evening "Newspaper and jailing of journalists. But this didn't scare the remaining CPP leaders.

The CPP junior leaders kept on demanding for the release of their jailed leaders. They also effectively organised the 1951 elections which the CPP won with a majority of 34 seats out of 38. To the surprise of the colonial government, the imprisoned Nkrumah won the Accra constituency seat.

Nkrumah's electoral victory made the governor. Sir Arden Clarke to release him and appoint him as the head of the government business. He was asked to form his own government and did this by appointing ministers from all over Gold Coast. Hence the CPP had won the semi-independence of Gold coast.

The CPP's leadership of the internal self-government was characterised by a number of achievements.

In 1953, the CPP bosses submitted proposals for a new constitution. These formed the core of the 1954-revised constitution.

The CPP internal self-government carried out infrastructural development. It constructed roads and railways for example the line from Kumasi to Accra, then to Tokoradi port.

It improved health services for example it set up Kumasi hospital.

It carried out agricultural reforms by providing quality seeds, marketing the farmers' Cocoa, paying reasonable prices to farmers etc.  It set up a Cocoa purchasing company in 1952.

It advocated for environmental protection;established several schools; put up housing schemes; constructed banks, hotels; improved the security of the country;  participated in the 1954 elections and won.

It helped Gold Coast to obtain a new and more representative constitution in 1954.

It tried to control its members from fighting against rival parties like MAP, NPP, NLK

It won the 1956 pre-independence elections by defeating an alliance of all opposition parties. Hence on 5/6^th March 1957, the British granted independence to Gold Coast under CPP leadership.

The CPP renamed the country "Ghana" and dropped the colonial and exploitative name "Gold Coast".