Convention People's Party
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Introduction
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| Founded | 1949 |
| Headquarters | H/No. 825/3 Mango Tree Ave. Asylum Down, Accra-North |
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| Ideology | Socialism, Pan-Africanism |
The Convention People's Party (CPP) is a socialist political party in Ghana, based on the ideas of former President Kwame Nkrumah.
The CPP was formed in 1949 by Kwame Nkrumah to campaign for independence and ruled from 1957 to 1966. During the latter part of the CPP rule, the constitution was changed to make it the only legal party in Ghana, making the nation a one-party state. The party was banned after the February 24, 1966 coup d'état. Parties following in its tradition have used various names.[1]
The above is simply an outline of the CPP/independence story. Deeper analysis reveals those other political organizations formed in the Gold Coast (as it was known before independence) - notably the United Gold Coast Convention, the UGCC, established in August 1947. Unlike the UGCC, the CPP was, from its outset, a nationalist organization determined to fight for independence in "the shortest possible time". Kwame Nkrumah was invited to be its General-Secretary.
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[edit] Creation Of The CPP
Dr.Kwame Nkrumah thought the UGCC's opposition to the colonial rulers lacked the necessary vehemence and urgency Nkrumah wanted "independence now"!. Breaking from the UGCC on these grounds he founded the Convention Peoples Party. With the motto "self-government now". On 9th January 1950 the CPP called for countrywide boycotts and strikes. In the course of these, two polcemen were shot dead, with the result was that the CPP leadership was arrested and imprisoned. This only increased the people's perception of Nkrumah him as a messiah. When general elections were held in 1951, the CPP won decisively despite the imprisonment of Dr Nkrumah and other party leaders. Nkrumah was subsequently released to form the colonys first African government. [2]
[edit] Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, The Man Behind The CPP
But who is this man, Kwame Nkrumah? Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was born in 1909 in Nkroful, in the Western Region of Ghana to Madam Nyaniba and Francis Kofi Ngonloma. After his elementary and secondary education at the Achimota and Roman Catholic Seminary, he left Ghana in 1935 for the U.S.A. and received a B.A. from Lincoln University in 1939. In 1942 he earned he earned a Master of Science in Education from the University of Pennsylvania, and a Master of Arts in Philosophy the following year. His stay in the United States gave him the exposure to the whiteman and better prepared him to take on the British in his fight for inddependence when he returned home.
The die was cast when he arrived in London. Even though he intended to study at the LSE, his meeting with George Padmore changed everything. He helped organize The Fifth Pan-African Congress in Manchester, England and that marked the beginning of his political career.
[edit] CPP Achieves Independence
With all this background, Nkrumah formed his first African cabinet in the British Empire in 1951. This was not independece yet. He still rejected the idea that local rulers who favored the British should be given a role in governing which he ironically viewed undemocratic. Ironically because he would eventually legislate a one-party state.
In 1956 further electiions were held, with the British promising that if the majority of the people called for it, a date for independence would be set. The CPP won 71 out 104 seats paving the way for Ghana to gain its independence on 6th March, 1957. The CPP remained in power until it was overthrown by a military coup d'tat in 1966.
The stage was set for a glorious future for both Dr Nkrumah and Ghana when the CPP came to power until 1958 when the introduction of two legislations would be the foundation of his demise. The afore-mentioned legislations were the Trade Union Act, which made strikes illegal and the Preventive Detention Act which allowed the government to detain political opponents without going through the court system. The stage was set for the overthrow of the CPP in 1966 in a coup d'tat
[edit] CPP rebirth
The CPP remained dissolved till January 29, 1996, when the National Convention Party and the People's Convention Party merged to form a new Convention People's Party.[3] The CPP has contested each election since 1996.
At the last elections, 7 December 2004, the party won 3 out of 230 seats. Its candidate in the presidential elections, George Aggudey, won only 1.0% of the vote.
[edit] Notes
- ^ A visit to the Gold Coast" pp.107-11
- ^ Finley, Cheryl. "Of anniversaries and bicentials" Dec.2006: 15(18)
- ^ "Arkaah says he can work with Rawlings despite", General News of Thursday, 1 February 1996, Ghana Home Page. Retrieved on 2007-04-17.
[edit] References
- Finley, Cheryl. " Of golden anniversaries and bicentennials: the convergence of memory, tourism, and national history in Ghana. "Journeys 7.2. (Dec. 2006) 15(18).
- "A visit to the Gold Coast". Africa: Journal of the International African Institute, Vol.1, No.1 (Jan. 1928) pp. 107-111. Edinburgh University Press.
[edit] See also
| New title | Governments of Ghana Parliamentary democracy Queen Elizabeth II ceremonial Head of state 1957 – 1960 |
First Republic established |
| New title | Governments of Ghana First Republic 1960 – 1966 |
Succeeded by National Liberation Council Military regime |
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