WHY THE
CPP EMERGED VICTORIOUS IN THE
1951 GENERAL ELECTIONS
The
inaugural general election in Gold Coast took place in 1951, prompted by the
realization of the colonial government's imperative action to facilitate a
democratic process for the selection of African representatives, as advised by
the Watson Commission.
The
election took place on the 28th of February in the year 1951. The Convention
People's Party (CPP), led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, emerged victorious over their
competitors, the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), due to the following
factors.
The
essence of the political party lies in its mass appeal, which aided in their
victory during the election as it allowed for widespread membership across the
nation. In contrast, the UGCC was considered an exclusive party, with
membership restricted to individuals of a certain social status, such as wealth
and education. This exclusivity limited their membership to a select few elites
within society.
The
renown of Nkrumah persisted even during his imprisonment, as he emerged
victorious in the election, solidifying his fame throughout the country.
Following his exclusion from the Coussey Committee, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah seized
the opportunity to traverse the nation, skilfully deploying his propaganda
apparatus to garner widespread recognition among the local population.
The
party's motto of "self-government now" motivates the voters to
support the party. The residents of Gold Coast favoured this slogan and viewed
it as their means to achieve liberation from colonization, contrasting with the
UGCC's stance of "self-government within the shortest possible time."
They are convinced that by voting for the CPP, independence will be achieved
sooner than with the UGCC.
Some
party members contributed to the success of the party. While Dr. Nkrumah was
incarcerated, Kojo Botsio, K. A. Gbedemah, Krobo Edusei, and others
disseminated the party's positive ideologies, rendering it appealing to all
members of the colony.
The
political parties that participated in the contest included the United Gold
Coast Convention (UGCC) led by J. B. Danquah, the Convention People's Party
(CPP) led by Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, and an independent candidate.
By Governor