List of MLAs elected in the 1956 Gold Coast general election explained

This is a list of people elected to the Legislative Assembly of the Gold Coast on 17 July 1956. The membership was maintained at 104.

Composition

Affiliation	Members
Convention People's Party (CPP)	71
Northern People's Party (NPP)	15
National Liberation Movement (NLM)	12
Togoland Congress (TC)	2
Independents	2
Federation of Youth Organizations (FYO)	1
Muslim Association Party (MAP)	1
Total	104
Government Majority	38

List of MPs elected in the general election

General elections were held on to elect a parliament prior to the Gold Coast being granted independence from colonial rule by the United Kingdom. The new assembly was opened on 31 July 1956. A few days later, on 3 August 1956, a motion was passed by the new assembly authorising the government to request the government of the United Kingdom to enact an act of parliament to provide for the establishment of the Gold Coast as an independent sovereign nation with the name Ghana.^[1] This parliament would continue after the country becomes independent as the first parliament in the Republic

Ashanti Region - 20 seats
width=200	Constituency	width=200	Elected MP	width=100	Elected Party	width=100	Comment	width=200	Previous MP	width=200	Previous Party
Adansi Banka	John Young Ghann^[2]	CPP		John Young Ghann^[3]	CPP
Agona Kwabre	Victor Owusu^[4]	NLM	Victor Owusu was replaced by Martin Kyerematen in 1961 after he was detained for allegedly plotting a coup to overthrow the then Nkrumah government^[5]	J. E. Jantuah^[6]
Ahafo	A. W. Osei	NLM
Amansie East	J. D. Wireko	NLM
Amansie West	Robert Benjamin Otchere^[7]	NLM
Ashanti-Akim		CPP
Atebubu		NLM
Atwima-Amansie	Joe Appiah^[8]	NLM	Arrested in 1961		CPP
Atwima Nwabiagya	Benjamin Freeman Kusi^[9] ^[10]	NLM
Berekum	J. G. Awuah^[11]	CPP	Died in office in 1957 and replaced by Isaac William Benneh^[12]
Kumasi North	Cobina Kessie^[13]	MAP	Appointed ambassador to Liberia 1958		CPP
Kumasi South	E. K. K. Taylor	CPP	By-election 1959		CPP
		CPP			CPP
Offinso Kwabre	J. A. Owusu-Ansah	NLM
Sekyere East		CPP			CPP
Sekyere West		NLM	R. R. Amponsah was replaced by Solomon Antwi Kwaku Bonsu in 1959 when he was detained under the PDA act.
Sunyani East	Boahene Yeboah-Afari^[14]	CPP	Arrested in 1962, replaced by Kyere Awua Gyan.		CPP
Sunyani West		CPP			CPP
Wenchi East	C. S. Takyi	CPP	3,754 votes		GCP
Wenchi West		NLM
Eastern Region - 23 seats
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Majority	Previous MP	Previous Party
Abetifi		NPP	3,046	Eugene Atta Agyepong	NPP
Accra Central (Ashiedu Keteke)		CPP	Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was replaced by Henry Sonnie Torgbor Provencal in a by-election on 30 August 1960.		CPP
Accra East		CPP			CPP
Accra West		CPP			CPP
	Andrews Kwabla Puplampu^[15]	CPP		Charles Ofoe Cludeto Amattey^[16]	CPP
Akim Abuakwa Central		CPP			CPP
Akim Abuakwa East	Kwaku Amoa-Awuah^[17]	CPP			CPP
Akim Abuakwa North	C. E. Nimo	CPP
Akim Abuakwa South	Kwasi Sintim Aboagye	CPP		Kwasi Sintim Aboagye	CPP
Akim Abuakwa West	Michael Reynolds Darku-Sarkwa^[18]	CPP	Died 1964^[19]	S. A. Owusu-Afari	CPP
Akwapim North		CPP	Was appointed Speaker of parliament in 1960 and was replaced by Kwasi Asante Sakyi
		CPP			CPP
Dangbe-Shai		CPP			CPP
Ga Rural		CPP	By-election in 1963^[20]	Mabel Dove Danquah (First female MP)	CPP
Juaben-Edweso	Issac Boaten Asafu-Adjaye^[21]	NLM
Kwahu North		CPP			Independent
Kwahu South	W. A. Wiafe	CPP
Manya Krobo	A. Mate Johnson	CPP
New Juaben	M. O. Kwatia	CPP
North Birim	Albert Kwame Onwona Agyeman^[22]	CPP
Osudoku		CPP		Alex Kwablah^[23]	Independent
South Birim		CPP
Western Gomoa	Kojo Botsio	CPP		Kojo Botsio	CPP
Northern Region - 26 seats
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Majority	Previous MP	Previous Party
Bawku		CPP		Amadu Amandi	Independent
Bolga	F. R. A. Adongo	NPP		R. B. Braimah	NPP
Bongo		CPP			CPP
Builsa		CPP			CPP
Dagomba East		CPP		J. H. Allassani	CPP
Dagomba North	S. I. Iddrisu	CPP		S. I. Iddrisu	CPP
Dagomba South		NPP		Yakubu Tali (Tolon Naa)	NPP
Frafra East		NPP		Tubrow Kapeon Yentu	NPP
Gonja East	J. A. Braimah	NPP			Independent
Gonja West		CPP			CPP
Gulkpegu-Nanton	R. S. Iddrisu	CPP		A. Osumanu	NPP
Jirapa-Lambussie		NPP		Chief Simon Diedong Dombo (leader of NPP)	NPP
Kassena-Nankanni North		NPP			CPP
Kassena-Nankani South		CPP			CPP
Kusasi Central	J. Awuni^[24]	NPP			NPP
Kusasi East	Idana Asigri	NPP		I. Asigri	NPP
Kusasi West		CPP			CPP
Lawra-Nandom	Abayifaa Karbo^[25]	NPP		Abayifaa Karbo	NPP
Nanum-Dagbon		CPP			CPP
Savelugu		NPP	Moved from NPP to join CPP in 1958.	S. Bukari	Independent
South Mamprusi East	Mumuni Bawumia^[26]	NPP			NPP
South Mamprusi West	Mahama Tampurie	NPP		J. K. Yakubu	CPP
Talensi	D. D. Balagumyetime	CPP		A. T. Anaffu	Independent
Tumu	Mummuni E. K. Dimbie	NPP
Wala North		NPP			NPP
Wala South		NPP			NPP
Volta Region - 14 seats
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Majority	Previous MP	Previous Party
Akan Krachi	Joseph Kodzo^[27]	CPP
Anlo East	Charles Henry Chapman	CPP
Anlo North	Nelson Maglo	CPP
Anlo South	Modesto K. Apaloo^[28]	FYO		Modesto K. Apaloo (Leader of AYO)	AYO
		CPP			CPP
		CPP
Ho East	Rev. Francis Richard Ametowobla	Independent	Sought political asylum 1960 and was replaced	Rev. Francis Richard Ametowobla	Independent
Ho West	Kodzo Ayeke	TC
		CPP	Resigned in 1961, was replaced by Christian Kobla Dovlo.		CPP
Kpandu North	S. G. Antor	TC		S. G. Antor (Leader of TC)	TC
Kpandu South	G. R. Ahia	CPP
Mid-Volta	John Arjarquah	CPP
South Tongu	Benjamin Alphonsus Konu	CPP		W. M. N. Djietror	CPP
Upper Tongu		CPP			CPP
Western Region - 22 seats
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Majority	Previous MP	Previous Party
Abura Asebu	Joseph Essilfie Hagan^[29]	CPP
Agona	W. A. C. Essibrah	CPP
Agona Swedru	E. K. Bensah^[30]	CPP
Ahanta-Shama		CPP			CPP
Ajumako-Asikuma		CPP		Anthony Seibu Alec Abban	CPP
Amenfi-Aowin		CPP	P. K. K. Quaidoo was detained in 1962 and was replaced by James Kwame Twum.		CPP
Assin	Daniel Buadi	CPP		Daniel Buadi	CPP
Awutu		CPP			CPP
Bibiani	James Kodjoe Essien	CPP		James Kodjoe Essien	CPP
Cape Coast		CPP			CPP
Denkyira		CPP		F.E. Techie-Menson^[31]	CPP
Eastern Gomoa	C. C. K. Baah^[32]	CPP		C. C. K. Baah	CPP
Eastern Nzima-Axim	W. Baidoe-Ansah	CPP		W. Baidoe-Ansah
Ekumfi-Enyan	S. K. Otoo	CPP	Replaced in 1958	S. K. Otoo	CPP
Elmina	K. O. Thompson	CPP
Saltpond	Kofi Baako (Chief Whip)	CPP			CPP
		CPP
Sekondi-Takoradi		CPP			CPP
Wassaw Central		CPP			CPP
Wassaw South	Emmanuel Kwamena Dadson	CPP
Western Nzima	John Bogolo Erzuah	CPP	Was appointed ambassador in 1957 and replaced by John Benibengor Blay.
Yilo Krobo		CPP

Changes

• Kusasi Central constituency - In August 1957 Awuni joined the CPP and represented the constituency as a member of the CPP until 1965.^[24]
• Ekumfi-Enyan constituency - 1958 - S. K. Otoo was replaced by Kwaku Boateng in 1958 to represent the constituency in parliament.^[26]
• Ho East constituency - March 1960 - The Ho East constituency was declared vacant in March 1960 when Rev. Ametowobla sought political asylum in Togo. The seat was subsequently occupied by Emmanuel Yaw Attigah of the CPP. Attigah remained MP for the constituency from 1960 to 1965.^[33]
• Atwima Amansie - 1961 - Joe Appiah was arrested in 1961 and was replaced by Isaac Joseph Adomako-Mensah who had been the legislative member for the Atwima-Amansie electoral area from 1954 to 1956.^[8]
• Eastern Nzima-Axim John Alicoe Kinnah of the CPP was the MP for this constituency by 1961.^[27]
• Anlo South In February 1962, Daniel Apedoh, who was elected to replace Modesto Apaloo following his detention was himself among a number of opposition members of parliament arrested leaving only 6 opposition MPs in the 114 seat parliament.^[34]

By-elections

• Berekum constituency - 25 April 1957 - A by-election was held due to the death of J. G. Awuah, the sitting CPP MP.^[11] The seat was won by Isaac William Benneh also of the CPP following Awuah's death.^{[26] [12]}
• Kumasi North constituency - 1959 - Cobina Kessie was appointed Ghana's ambassador to Liberia in 1959 and Daniel Emmanuel Asafo-Agyei was elected on the ticket of the CPP to replace him as the member of parliament for the Kumasi North constituency.^{[35] [36]}
• Kumasi South constituency - 1959 - Osei Owusu Afriyie of the CPP was elected MP in April 1959, replacing Edward Asafu-Adjaye.^[17]
• June 1960 - There were a total of 10 women elected unopposed in this by-election. Three women, Susanna Al-Hassan,^[22] Ayanori Bukari and Victoria Nyarko became Members of Parliament representing the Northern Region. Grace Ayensu and Christiana Wilmot won the Western Region seats.^[37] The rest were Sophia Doku and Mary Koranteng,^[10] Eastern Region, Regina Asamany,^[21] Volta Region, Comfort Asamoah, Ashanti Region, and Lucy Anin, Brong Ahafo Region.^[37]
• Accra Central - 1960 - Henry Sonnie Torgbor Provencal won the by-election held on 30 August 1960 to replace Dr. Kwame Nkrumah who had become head of state and no longer capable of representing his constituency, Accra Central in parliament.
• Ga Rural constituency - 1963 - Paul Tekio Tagoe won the by-election held on 12 February 1963 unopposed to become the MP for Ga Rural.^[20]
• Akim Abuakwa West constituency (Kade-Akwatia) - 1964 - Michael Reynolds Darku-Sarkwa died in 1964 and was replaced by Kwesi Amoako-Atta who stood for the seat unopposed on the ticket of the CPP.^{[19] [38] [39]}

See also

• Parliament of Ghana
• 1956 Gold Coast legislative election

External links

• African Elections Database
• Gold Coast Legislative Assembly Debates, 1956 - 1957 Official Report - First Series Volume 1 (List of MPs on pages i - iv)

Notes and References

1. Web site: British Empire; The end of the British empire - Ghana . NationalArchives.gov.uk . UK Government . 4 April 2019.
2. News: Lomotey . R. A. . Ashanti Regional Interim Assembly: Judge: I Can't Stop Today's Meeting . 2 February 2020 . Daily Graphic . 2063 . Graphic Corporation . 11 May 1957 . 1.
3. Debates, Issue 2 . Gold Coast Legislative Assembly . 1 . 1954.
4. Book: Asamoah . Obed Yao . The Political History of Ghana (1950-2013):The Experience of a Non-Conformist . 20 October 2014 . AuthorHouseUK . 978-1496985620 . 51 . 2 February 2020.
5. Book: Asamoah, Obed . Obed Asamoah

   . Obed Asamoah . 2014 . The Political History of Ghana (1950-2013): The Experience of a Non-Conformist . 52. 9781496985637 .

6. Debates, Issue 2 . Gold Coast Legislative Assembly . 1 . 1954.
7. 6 October 1964. Treason Defendants Given Delay To Seek Counsel. Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts. United States Central Intelligence Agency. 195–196. I9. 2 February 2020.
8. Web site: Nelson . Ekow . Mr. R.R Amponsah was no innocent abroad . ModernGhana.com . Modern Ghana . 20 May 2019.
9. Book: Jubilee Ghana - A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra . 9988809786 . 18.
10. Ghana Year Book . Ghana Year Book . 1961 . 17 . 2 February 2020 . Graphic Corporation.
11. News: Steel boxes for Berekum by-election . Daily Graphic . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . 22 April 1957.
12. Index - B . Parliamentary Debates - National Assembly Official Report - Part 1 . 26 January 1965 . 16 May 2021 . Government Printing Department (Publications Branch) . Accra.
13. Debates, Part 1 . Gold Coast Legislative Assembly . 1956 . Debates.
14. Book: Parliamentary Debates; Official Report, Part 1 . 1960 . Ghana National Assembly . Accra . iv . 24 February 2020.
15. West Africa Annual, Issue 8 . James Clarke . 79 . 1965.
16. Debates, Part 1 . Gold Coast Legislative Assembly . 11 and 75 . 1956.
17. Book: Ghana Year Book . 1960 . Graphic Corporation . Accra . 9 . 24 February 2020.
18. Book: Ghana Year Book . 1960 . Graphic Corporation . Accra . 11 . 24 February 2020.
19. Ghana Year Book 1964. Daily Graphic . 28 . 1964 . Ghana Year Book.
20. Book: Ghana Gazette . 1963 . Ghana Government . Accra . 117 . 23 February 2020.
21. Ghana Year Book . Ghana Year Book . 1961 . 13 . 2 February 2020 . Graphic Corporation.
22. Book: Ghana Year Book. 1961. Graphic Corporation. 13. 3 February 2020.
23. Debates . Gold Coast Legislative Assembly . 1956.
24. Book: Danquah, Moses . 1958 . Ghana One Year Old: A First Independence Anniversary Review . Publicity Promotions . 11.
25. Web site: State Burial for Naa Abeifaa Karbo . Modern Ghana . 8 November 2021 . en . 18 January 2005.
26. 1961. Ghana Year Book. Ghana Year Book. Graphic Corporation. 15. 2 February 2020.
27. Book: Parliamentary Debates; Official Report, Part 1 . 1961 . Ghana National Assembly (now Parliament of Ghana) . Accra . 3 February 2020.
28. Web site: Frazier . Joe . Job 600 and Members of Parliament . Graphic Online . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . 24 February 2020 . 14 November 2015 . Messrs. K.A Gbedema and Nelson Maglo were the first MPs I saw and listened to. The two gentlemen were CPP Members of Parliament for Keta and Avenor respectively..
29. Ghana Year Book . Ghana Year Book . 1961 . 15 . 2 February 2020 . Graphic Corporation.
30. Book: Jubilee Ghana - A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic . 2006 . Graphic Communications Group Ltd . Accra . 9988809786 . 14.
31. Web site: Dokosi . Michael . The electoral victories and shock losses of the 1954 Gold Coast election . BlakkPepper.com . 20 May 2019.
32. West Africa, Issues 2431-2456 . West Africa Publishing Company, Limited . 440 . 1964 . West Africa Issues.
33. Second Report from P.A.C. . Parliamentary Debates - National Assembly Official Report - Part 1 . 26 January 1965 . 335 . 16 May 2021 . Government Printing Department (Publications Branch) . Accra.
34. Ghana Arrests 80, Accra Hears . Congressional Record: Proceedings and Debates of the 87th Congress . 1 January 1962 . 108 . 2nd edition . 559 . 18 January 2022 . United States Congress . ebook.
35. Ghana Year Book 1961 . Graphic Corporation . 13 . 1961 . Ghana Year Book.
36. West African Review, Volume 31 . West African Graphics Company . 45 . 1960 . West African Review.
37. Web site: Donkor . Salome . How Nkrumah Empowered Ghanaian Women . modernghana.com . Modern Ghana . 2 February 2020 . 18 September 2009.
38. West Africa . West Africa Publishing Company, Limited . 2431–2456. 440 . 1964 . West Africa Issues.
39. Book: Sowah Commission . Report of the Sowah Commission: Appointed Under the Commission of Enquiry Act, 1964 (Act 250) and N.L.C. Investigation and Forfeiture of Assests Decree, 1966 N.L.C.D. 72 to Enquire Into the Assests of Specified Persons . 1968 . State Publishing Corporation (Printing Division) . 62 . Volume 1 . 8 March 2020.