United Party (Ghana)
Encyclopedia
The United Party was the main opposition party in the First Republic of Ghana
. It was the only opposition party throughout its existence from 1957 until 1964 when Ghana became a one party state.
passed the Avoidance of Discrimination Act, 1957 (C.A. 38), which banned all parties and organizations that were confined to or identifiable to any racial, ethnic or religious groups with effect form 31 December 1957. The title of the Act was:
This law meant that all the existing political parties would become illegal. These parties included the Northern People's Party
, Muslim Association Party
, National Liberation Movement
(NLM), Anlo Youth Organization, Togoland Congress
and the Ga Shifimokpee. They therefore merged under the leadership of Kofi Abrefa Busia
, leader of the NLM as the United Party.
was overthrown in a coup d'état
.
and the United Gold Coast Convention
. The following parties all claimed their roots from the "UGCC - UP tradition".
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...
. It was the only opposition party throughout its existence from 1957 until 1964 when Ghana became a one party state.
Formation
After Ghana attained its independence on 6 March 1957, the Parliament of GhanaParliament of Ghana
The Parliament of Ghana is the legislative body of the Ghanaian government.-History:Legislative representation in Ghana dates back to 1850, when the country was a British colony. The body, called the Legislative Council, was purely advisory as the Governor exercised all legislative and executive...
passed the Avoidance of Discrimination Act, 1957 (C.A. 38), which banned all parties and organizations that were confined to or identifiable to any racial, ethnic or religious groups with effect form 31 December 1957. The title of the Act was:
An Act to prohibit organizations using or engaging in tribal, regional,
racial and religious propaganda to the detriment of any community, or
securing the election of persons on account of their tribal, regional or
religious affiliations and for other purpose connected therewith.
This law meant that all the existing political parties would become illegal. These parties included the Northern People's Party
Northern People's Party
The Northern People's Party was a political party in the Gold Coast which aimed to protect the interests of those in the Northern region of Ghana....
, Muslim Association Party
Muslim Association Party
The Muslim Association Party was a political party in the Gold Coast, active from 1954 to 1957.The MAP grew out of the Gold Coast Muslim Association, which was established as a welfare and social association in 1932. Involved in politics by the early 1950s, it became the Muslim Association Party...
, National Liberation Movement
National Liberation Movement (Ghana)
The National Liberation Movement was a Ghanaian political party formed in 1954. Set up by disaffected Ashanti members of the Convention People's Party, who were joined by Kofi Abrefa Busia, the NLM opposed the process of centralization whilst supporting a continuing role for traditional leaders....
(NLM), Anlo Youth Organization, Togoland Congress
Togoland Congress
The Togoland Congress was a political party formed in 1951 to campaign for the unification of the Ewe people in British Togoland and French Togoland as a separate Ewe state. The party was defeated in the May 1956 UN plebiscite in British Togoland, which resulted in the unification of British...
and the Ga Shifimokpee. They therefore merged under the leadership of Kofi Abrefa Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia
Kofi Abrefa Busia was Prime Minister of Ghana from 1969–72. He was born in Wenchi, in the then British colony of Gold Coast . He was educated at Methodist School, Wenchi, Mfantsipim School, Cape Coast, then at Wesley College, Kumasi from 1931–32. He later became a teacher at Achimota Secondary...
, leader of the NLM as the United Party.
Demise
The party's effectiveness as the opposition suffered when it was no more recognised as the official opposition after Ghana became a republic in 1960. In September 1962, the National Assembly passed a resolution calling for a one-party state. This was accepted following a referendum in January 1964. This effectively sounded the death of all opposition parties in Ghana and this situation persisted until February 24, 1966 when the Nkrumah governmentNkrumah government
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was the first Prime Minister and first President of Ghana.-Nkrumah's first independence government :Nkrumah had run governments under the supervision of the British government through Charles Arden-Clarke, the Governor-General. His first government under colonial rule started...
was overthrown in a coup d'état
Coup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
.
Political tradition
The United Party,though it was an amalgam of all opposition parties of the time, was dominated by the NLM which was the biggest opposition party before its formation. The NLM saw its roots in the Ghana Congress PartyGhana Congress Party
The Ghana Congress Party was founded in May 1952 by Kofi Busia who also its leader. The party was formed by dissatisfied former Convention People's Party members and and others from the United Gold Coast Convention , which was disbanded after a poor performance in the 1951 elections. The party...
and the United Gold Coast Convention
United Gold Coast Convention
The United Gold Coast Convention was a political party whose aim was to bring about Ghanaian independence from British rule after the Second World War....
. The following parties all claimed their roots from the "UGCC - UP tradition".
- Progress PartyProgress Party (Ghana)The Progress Party was the ruling party in Ghana during the Second Republic . In the 29 August 1969 elections, the PP won 105 of the National Assembly's 140 seats....
- led by Busia and formed Busia governmentBusia governmentThis is a listing of the ministers who served in Busia's Progress Party government during the Second Republic of Ghana. The Second Republic lasted from 1 October 1969 to 13 January 1972.-List of ministers:-References:...
between 1969 and 1972. - Popular Front PartyPopular Front PartyThe Popular Front Party was the main opposition political party in Ghana during the Third Republic .In elections held on 18 June 1979, PFP presidential candidate Victor Owusu won 29.9% of the vote and the party won 42 of 140 seats in the National Assembly...
- led by Victor OwusuVictor OwusuFor the rapper with the same birth name, see V.I.C..Victor Owusu is a former Ghanaian politician and lawyer. He has also served as Attorney General and Justice minister as well as foreign minister on two separate occasions....
, was the largest opposition party between 1979 and 1981. - New Patriotic PartyNew Patriotic Party-External links:*...
- led by John KufuorJohn KufuorJohn Kofi Agyekum Kufuor was the second president of the 4th Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of the African Union...
, President of GhanaHeads of state of GhanaPrior to independence in 1957, Ghana was known as the British colony of Gold Coast. Before then it had been divided among a number of states, by far the largest of which was the Ashanti Empire, whose rulers were known as the Asantehene....
(January 2001 - January 2009).