Dominion of Ghana
Ghana | |||||||||
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1957–1960 | |||||||||
Motto: "Freedom and Justice" | |||||||||
Anthem: God Bless Our Homeland Ghana | |||||||||
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Capital | Accra | ||||||||
Common languages |
English Akan | ||||||||
Government | Constitutional monarchy | ||||||||
Queen | |||||||||
• 1957–1960 | Elizabeth II | ||||||||
Governor-General | |||||||||
• 1957 | Charles Noble Arden-Clarke | ||||||||
• 1957–1960 | Lord Listowel | ||||||||
Prime Minister | |||||||||
• 1957–1960 | Kwame Nkrumah | ||||||||
Legislature | National Assembly | ||||||||
Historical era | Cold War | ||||||||
• Independence | 6 March 1957 | ||||||||
• Republic | 1 July 1960 | ||||||||
Currency |
BWA pound (1957–1958) Ghanaian pound (1958–1965) | ||||||||
ISO 3166 code | GH | ||||||||
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History of Ghana |
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Ghana was a dominion within the Commonwealth of Nations between 6 March 1957 and 1 July 1960, before it became the Republic of Ghana. It was the first western African country to achieve independence.
British rule ended in 1957, when the Ghana Independence Act 1957 transformed the British Crown Colony of the Gold Coast into the independent dominion of Ghana.[1][2] The British monarch remained head of state, and Ghana shared its Sovereign with the other Commonwealth realms. The monarch's constitutional roles were mostly delegated to the Governor-General of Ghana. The following governors-general held office:
- Charles Noble Arden-Clarke (6 March – 24 June 1957)
- William Francis Hare, 5th Earl of Listowel (24 June 1957 – 1 July 1960)
A referendum was held on 27 April 1960, with 88.47% percent of the voters favouring a republic, and 11.53% against. The republic was declared and the monarchy abolished on 1 July 1960.
Elizabeth II did not reside in or visit Ghana between 1957 and 1960, but she did visit:
- 1961 (9–20 November): as Head of the Commonwealth
- 1999 (7–9 November): as Head of the Commonwealth
Kwame Nkrumah held office as prime minister (and head of government). Following the abolition of the monarchy, Nkrumah won a presidential election and became the first President of Ghana.
References
- ↑ "Heads of State of Ghana (1957 – To Date)". Ghananation.com. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- ↑ "Queen Elizabeth II (1952 – )". Britroyals.com. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
External links
- Ben Cahoon. "Ghana". Worldstatesmen.org. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- "Ghana: Polity Style: 1957-2017". Archontology.org. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- "Ghana: Heads of State: 1957-1960". Archontology.org. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- "Ghana: Governors-General: 1957-1960". Archontology.org. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
- "CONSTITUTIONAL LAW OF GHANA" (PDF). Francisbennion.com. Retrieved 2017-01-26.