Accra Riots
Encyclopedia
The Accra Riots started February 28, 1948 in Accra
(now the capital of Ghana
), when a peaceful march and protest by ex-servicemen was broken up by police, leaving several members of the group dead. Among the dead was Sergeant Adjetey, one of the group's leaders, who has since been memorialized in Accra. The ex-servicemen were veterans of World War II. Their march was a peaceful attempt to bring a petition to the Governor of the Gold Coast requesting the dispensation of promised pensions and other compensation for their valiant efforts during the war. The Gold Coast Regiment were some of the most decorated African soldiers from the war, fighting alongside British troops in Burma. They had been promised pensions and jobs; however, when they returned to Ghana, jobs were scarce and their pensions were never disbursed. When the group marched toward the Governor's residence at Christiansborg Castle, they were stopped and confronted by the colonial police, who refused to let them pass and ultimately shot into the crowd, wounding and killing former soldiers. In response to the violence, the population of Accra broke out in riots in which both African and European-owned stores and businesses were attacked.
The British colonial government set up the Watson Commission, which examined the circumstances surrounding the riots, and the colonial government was forced to pay damages to property owners and businesses for years to come. The aftermath of the riots included the arrest of Kwame Nkrumah
and other activists, known as 'the Big Six
', who were held responsible for the riots. The incident is seen as marking the beginning of the process of independence for the Gold Coast
as Ghana
- the first African colony
to achieve this. While still in jail, Nkrumah was elected the colony's first African prime minister. The Gold Coast gained its independence in 1957, and was renamed Ghana.The ex-servicemen who were shot were :Private Ordatey,Sergeant Adjetey,Corporal Attipoe and
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
(now the capital of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
), when a peaceful march and protest by ex-servicemen was broken up by police, leaving several members of the group dead. Among the dead was Sergeant Adjetey, one of the group's leaders, who has since been memorialized in Accra. The ex-servicemen were veterans of World War II. Their march was a peaceful attempt to bring a petition to the Governor of the Gold Coast requesting the dispensation of promised pensions and other compensation for their valiant efforts during the war. The Gold Coast Regiment were some of the most decorated African soldiers from the war, fighting alongside British troops in Burma. They had been promised pensions and jobs; however, when they returned to Ghana, jobs were scarce and their pensions were never disbursed. When the group marched toward the Governor's residence at Christiansborg Castle, they were stopped and confronted by the colonial police, who refused to let them pass and ultimately shot into the crowd, wounding and killing former soldiers. In response to the violence, the population of Accra broke out in riots in which both African and European-owned stores and businesses were attacked.
The British colonial government set up the Watson Commission, which examined the circumstances surrounding the riots, and the colonial government was forced to pay damages to property owners and businesses for years to come. The aftermath of the riots included the arrest of Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah
Kwame Nkrumah was the leader of Ghana and its predecessor state, the Gold Coast, from 1952 to 1966. Overseeing the nation's independence from British colonial rule in 1957, Nkrumah was the first President of Ghana and the first Prime Minister of Ghana...
and other activists, known as 'the Big Six
The Big Six (Ghana)
The Big Six were six leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention , the leading political party in the British colony of the Gold Coast. They were detained by the colonial authorities in 1948 following disturbances leading to the killing of three World War II veterans...
', who were held responsible for the riots. The incident is seen as marking the beginning of the process of independence for the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
as Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
- the first African colony
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
to achieve this. While still in jail, Nkrumah was elected the colony's first African prime minister. The Gold Coast gained its independence in 1957, and was renamed Ghana.The ex-servicemen who were shot were :Private Ordatey,Sergeant Adjetey,Corporal Attipoe and