List of MLAs elected in the 1956 Gold Coast legislative election

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.

Colonial Era
1951 Assembly	(1951)
1954 Assembly	(1954)
1956 Assembly	(1956)
First Republic
1957 Parliament	(1956)
1965 Parliament	(1965)
Second Republic
1969 Parliament	(1969)
Third Republic
1979 Parliament	(1979)
Fourth Republic
1992-1996-2000
2004-2008-2012
2016-2020

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
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Comment	Previous MP	Previous Party
Adansi Banka	John Young Ghann[2][3]	CPP		John Young Ghann[4]	CPP
Agona Kwabre	Victor Owusu[5]	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[6]	J. E. Jantuah[7]
Ahafo	A. W. Osei	NLM
Amansie East	J. D. Wireko	NLM
Amansie West	Robert Benjamin Otchere[8]	NLM
Ashanti-Akim	Charles de Graft Dickson[9]	CPP
Atebubu	W. Ntoso	NLM
Atwima-Amansie	Joe Appiah[10]	NLM	Arrested in 1961	Isaac Joseph Adomako-Mensah	CPP
Atwima Nwabiagya	Benjamin Freeman Kusi[11][12]	NLM
Berekum	J. G. Awuah[13]	CPP	Died in office in 1957 and replaced by Isaac William Benneh
Kumasi North	Cobina Kessie[14]	MAP	Appointed ambassador to Liberia 1958	Archie Casely-Hayford	CPP
Kumasi South	E. K. K. Taylor	CPP	By-election 1959	Edward Asafu-Adjaye	CPP
Obuasi	R. O. Amoako-Atta	CPP		R. O. Amoako-Atta	CPP
Offinso Kwabre	J. A. Owusu-Ansah	NLM
Sekyere East	Krobo Edusei	CPP		Krobo Edusei	CPP
Sekyere West	R. R. Amponsah	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[15]	CPP	Arrested in 1962, replaced by Kyere Awua Gyan.	Boahene Yeboah-Afari	CPP
Sunyani West	Stephen Willie Yeboah[15]	CPP		Stephen Willie Yeboah	CPP
Wenchi East	C. S. Takyi	CPP	3,754 votes	Kofi Abrefa Busia	GCP
Wenchi West	Kofi Abrefa Busia[16]	NLM
Eastern Region - 23 seats
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Majority	Previous MP	Previous Party
Abetifi	Eugene Atta Agyepong	NPP	3,046	Eugene Atta Agyepong	NPP
Accra Central (Ashiedu Keteke)	Kwame Nkrumah	CPP	Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was replaced by Henry Sonnie Torgbor Provencal in a by-election on 30 August 1960.	Kwame Nkrumah	CPP
Accra East	Ebenezer Ako-Adjei	CPP		Ebenezer Ako-Adjei	CPP
Accra West	Robert Mensah Abbey	CPP		T. Hutton-Mills	CPP
Ada	Andrews Kwabla Puplampu[17]	CPP		Charles Ofoe Cludeto Amattey[18]	CPP
Akim Abuakwa Central	Aaron Ofori-Atta	CPP		Aaron Ofori-Atta	CPP
Akim Abuakwa East	Kwaku Amoa-Awuah[19]	CPP		Kwaku Amoa-Awuah	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[9]	CPP	Died 1964[20]	S. A. Owusu-Afari	CPP
Akwapim North	J. R. Asiedu	CPP	Was appointed Speaker of parliament in 1960 and was replaced by Kwasi Asante Sakyi
Akwapim South	K. Asiam	CPP		K. Asiam	CPP
Dangbe-Shai	Edward Ago-Ackam	CPP		C. T. Nylander	CPP
Ga Rural	C. T. Nylander[21]	CPP	By-election in 1963[22]	Mabel Dove Danquah (First female MP)	CPP
Juaben-Edweso	Issac Boaten Asafu-Adjaye[23]	NLM
Kwahu North	Erasmus Isaac Preko	CPP		Erasmus Isaac Preko	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[24]	CPP
Osudoku	Edmund Nee Ocansey	CPP		Alex Kwablah[25]	Independent
South Birim	Archie Casely-Hayford	CPP
Western Gomoa	Kojo Botsio	CPP		Kojo Botsio	CPP
Northern Region - 26 seats
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Majority	Previous MP	Previous Party
Bawku	Baba Ayagiba	CPP		Amadu Amandi	Independent
Bolga	F. R. A. Adongo	NPP		R. B. Braimah	NPP
Bongo	W. A. Amoro[19]	CPP		W. A. Amoro	CPP
Builsa	A. Afoko[11][24]	CPP		A. Afoko	CPP
Dagomba East	J. H. Allassani	CPP		J. H. Allassani	CPP
Dagomba North	S. I. Iddrisu	CPP		S. I. Iddrisu	CPP
Dagomba South	Yakubu Tali (Tolon-Na)	NPP		Yakubu Tali (Tolon Naa)	NPP
Frafra East	Tubrow Kapeon Yentu[15]	NPP		Tubrow Kapeon Yentu	NPP
Gonja East	J. A. Braimah	NPP		J. A. Braimah	Independent
Gonja West	Emmanuel Adama Mahama	CPP		Emmanuel Adama Mahama	CPP
Gulkpegu-Nanton	R. S. Iddrisu	CPP		A. Osumanu	NPP
Jirapa-Lambussie	Simon Diedong Dombo[9]	NPP		Chief Simon Diedong Dombo (leader of NPP)	NPP
Kassena-Nankanni North	C.K. Tedam	NPP		C.K. Tedam	CPP
Kassena-Nankani South	Lawrence Rosario Abavana	CPP		Lawrence Rosario Abavana	CPP
Kusasi Central	J. Awuni[26]	NPP		J. Awuni	NPP
Kusasi East	Idana Asigri	NPP		I. Asigri	NPP
Kusasi West	Ayeebo Asumda	CPP		Ayeebo Asumda	CPP
Lawra-Nandom	Abayifaa Karbo[27]	NPP		Abayifaa Karbo	NPP
Nanum-Dagbon	Nantogma. Atta	CPP		Nantogma. Atta	CPP
Savelugu	Salifu Yakubu	NPP	Moved from NPP to join CPP in 1958.	S. Bukari	Independent
South Mamprusi East	Mumuni Bawumia[28]	NPP		Mumuni Bawumia	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		Imoru Egala
Wala North	Jatoe Kaleo[27]	NPP		Jatoe Kaleo	NPP
Wala South	Bukari Kpegla Adama	NPP		Bukari Kpegla Adama	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[29]	CPP
Anlo South	Modesto K. Apaloo[29]	FYO		Modesto K. Apaloo (Leader of AYO)	AYO
Buem	Francis Yao Asare[21]	CPP		Francis Yao Asare	CPP
Central Tongu	Ferdinand Koblavi Dra Goka[2]	CPP
Ho East	Rev. Francis Richard Ametowobla[19]	Independent	Sought political asylum 1960 and was replaced	Rev. Francis Richard Ametowobla	Independent
Ho West	Kojo Ayeke	TC
Keta	Komla Agbeli Gbedemah[2][29]	CPP	Resigned in 1961, was replaced by Christian Kobla Dovlo.	Komla Agbeli Gbedemah	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[12]	CPP		W. M. N. Djietror	CPP
Upper Tongu	Stephen Allen Dzirasa[9]	CPP		Stephen Allen Dzirasa	CPP
Western Region - 22 seats
Constituency	Elected MP	Elected Party	Majority	Previous MP	Previous Party
Abura Asebu	Joseph Essilfie Hagan[2]	CPP
Agona	W. A. C. Essibrah	CPP
Agona Swedru	E. K. Bensah[21]	CPP
Ahanta-Shama	Ashford Emmanuel Inkumsah	CPP		Ashford Emmanuel Inkumsah	CPP
Ajumako-Asikuma	Anthony Seibu Alec Abban	CPP		Anthony Seibu Alec Abban	CPP
Amenfi-Aowin	P. K. K. Quaidoo[27]	CPP	P. K. K. Quaidoo was detained in 1962 and was replaced by James Kwame Twum.	P. K. K. Quaidoo	CPP
Assin	Daniel Buadi	CPP
Awutu	Alfred Jonas Dowuona-Hammond[9]	CPP		Alfred Jonas Dowuona-Hammond	CPP
Bibiani	James Kodjoe Essien[2]	CPP
Cape Coast	Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck	CPP		Nathaniel Azarco Welbeck	CPP
Denkyira	F.E. Techie-Menson	CPP		F.E. Techie-Menson[16]	CPP
Eastern Gomoa	C. C. K. Baah[30]	CPP		C. C. K. Baah	CPP
Eastern Nzima-Axim	W. Baidoe-Ansah[27]	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		Kofi Baako	CPP
Sefwi Wiawso	William Kwabena Aduhene	CPP
Sekondi-Takoradi	John Arthur[23]	CPP		John Arthur	CPP
Wassaw Central	Samuel Emanful Arkah	CPP		Samuel Emanful Arkah	CPP
Wassaw South	Emmanuel Kwamena Dadson[9][21]	CPP
Western Nzima	John Bogolo Erzuah	CPP	Was appointed ambassador in 1957 and replaced by John Benibengor Blay.
Yilo Krobo	Emmanuel Humphrey Tettey Korboe[12]	CPP

Changes

• Kusasi Central constituency - In August 1957 Awuni joined the CPP and represented the constituency as a member of the CPP until 1965.[26]
• Ekumfi-Enyan constituency - 1958 - S. K. Otoo was replaced by Kwaku Boateng in 1958 to represent the constituency in parliament.[28]
• 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.
• 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.[10]
• Eastern Nzima-Axim John Alicoe Kinnah of the CPP was the MP for this constituency by 1961.[27]

By-elections

• Berekum constituency - 25 April 1957 - A by-election was held due to the death of J. G. Awuah, the sitting CPP MP.[13] The seat was won by Isaac William Benneh also of the CPP following Awuah's death.[28]
• 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.[31][32]
• Kumasi South constituency - 1959 - Osei Owusu Afriyie of the CPP was elected MP in April 1959, replacing Edward Asafu-Adjaye.[19]
• June 1960 - There were a total of 10 women elected unopposed in this by-election. Three women, Susanna Al-Hassan,[24] Ayanori Bukari and Victoria Nyarko became Members of Parliament representing the Northern Region. Grace Ayensu and Christiana Wilmot won the Western Region seats.[33] The rest were Sophia Doku and Mary Koranteng,[12] Eastern Region, Regina Asamany,[23] Volta Region, Comfort Asamoah, Ashanti Region, and Lucy Anim, Brong Ahafo Region.[33]
• 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.[22]
• 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.[20][34][35]

Notes and references

1. "British Empire; The end of the British empire - Ghana". NationalArchives.gov.uk. UK Government. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
2. "Ghana Year Book". Ghana Year Book. Graphic Corporation: 15. 1961. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
3. Lomotey, R. A. (11 May 1957). "Ashanti Regional Interim Assembly: Judge: I Can't Stop Today's Meeting". Daily Graphic (2063). Graphic Corporation. p. 1. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
4. "Debates, Issue 2". Gold Coast Legislative Assembly. 1954: 1. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
5. Asamoah, Obed Yao (20 October 2014). The Political History of Ghana (1950-2013):The Experience of a Non-Conformist. AuthorHouseUK. p. 51. ISBN 978-1496985620. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
6. Asamoah, Obed (2014). The Political History of Ghana (1950-2013): The Experience of a Non-Conformist. p. 52. ISBN 9781496985637.
7. "Debates, Issue 2". Gold Coast Legislative Assembly. 1954: 1. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
8. "Treason Defendants Given Delay To Seek Counsel". Daily Report, Foreign Radio Broadcasts. United States Central Intelligence Agency (195–196): I9. 6 October 1964. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
9. Ghana Year Book. Accra: Graphic Corporation. 1960. p. 11. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
10. Nelson, Ekow. "Mr. R.R Amponsah was no innocent abroad". ModernGhana.com. Modern Ghana. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
11. Jubilee Ghana - A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 18. ISBN 9988809786.
12. "Ghana Year Book". Ghana Year Book. Graphic Corporation: 17. 1961. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
13. "Steel boxes for Berekum by-election". Daily Graphic. Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 22 April 1957.
14. "Debates, Part 1". Debates. Gold Coast Legislative Assembly. 1956.
15. Parliamentary Debates; Official Report, Part 1. Accra: Ghana National Assembly. 1960. p. iv. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
16. Dokosi, Michael. "The electoral victories and shock losses of the 1954 Gold Coast election". BlakkPepper.com. Retrieved 20 May 2019.
17. "West Africa Annual, Issue 8". James Clarke. 1965: 79. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
18. "Debates, Part 1". Gold Coast Legislative Assembly. 1956: 11 and 75. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
19. Ghana Year Book. Accra: Graphic Corporation. 1960. p. 9. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
20. "Ghana Year Book 1964". Ghana Year Book. Daily Graphic: 28. 1964.
21. Jubilee Ghana - A 50-year news journey thro' Graphic. Accra: Graphic Communications Group Ltd. 2006. p. 14. ISBN 9988809786.
22. Ghana Gazette. Accra: Ghana Government. 1963. p. 117. Retrieved 23 February 2020.
23. "Ghana Year Book". Ghana Year Book. Graphic Corporation: 13. 1961. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
24. Ghana Year Book. Graphic Corporation. 1961. p. 13. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
25. "Debates". Gold Coast Legislative Assembly. 1956. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
26. Danquah, Moses (1958). Ghana One Year Old: A First Independence Anniversary Review. Publicity Promotions. p. 11.
27. Parliamentary Debates; Official Report, Part 1. Accra: Ghana National Assembly (now Parliament of Ghana). 1961. Retrieved 3 February 2020.
28. "Ghana Year Book". Ghana Year Book. Graphic Corporation: 15. 1961. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
29. Frazier, Joe (14 November 2015). "Job 600 and Members of Parliament". Graphic Online. Graphic Communications Group Ltd. Retrieved 24 February 2020. 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.
30. "West Africa, Issues 2431-2456". West Africa Issues. West Africa Publishing Company, Limited: 440. 1964.
31. "Ghana Year Book 1961". Ghana Year Book. Graphic Corporation: 13. 1961.
32. "West African Review, Volume 31". West African Review. West African Graphics Company: 45. 1960.
33. Donkor, Salome (18 September 2009). "How Nkrumah Empowered Ghanaian Women". modernghana.com. Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2 February 2020.
34. "West Africa". West Africa Issues. West Africa Publishing Company, Limited (2431–2456): 440. 1964.
35. Sowah Commission (1968). 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 (Volume 1 ed.). State Publishing Corporation (Printing Division). p. 62. Retrieved 8 March 2020.

See also

• Parliament of Ghana
• 1956 Gold Coast legislative election

External links and sources

• African Elections Database