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ThePositive Action campaign was a series of anti-imperialist and pro-independence protests and strikes during 1950 in theGold Coast, a British colony that would later becomeGhana. The campaign was marked by a general strike where workers demanded self-governance from theBritish Empire.
The Positive Action campaign served as an early step in the Ghanaian independence movement. Several of its lead figures, including Ghanaian politicianKwame Nkrumah and senior officials within theGhana Trades Union Congress (TUC) were jailed by British colonial authorities for their involvement in the campaign.
At midnight on 6 January 1950 the Trade Union Congress (TUC) declared a general strike triggering Kwame Nkrumah to announce the start of the Positive Action campaign at a mass rally on 8 January.[1]
Positive Action was launched to fight imperialism and demand "self government now" and independence from colonial rule by the British. through a campaign ofnonviolence and political education of the people.
However, when Nkrumah launched the campaign, riots erupted throughout the capital,Accra.[2][3][4][5]
The response of the British colonialists was to declare a state of emergency banning newspapers, including two published by Nkrumah. and making sweeping arrests.
The response of the British colonialists was to declare a state of emergency banning newspapers, including two published by Nkrumah. and making sweeping arrests.
As well as Kwame Nkrumah, others were arrested and jailed including:
However, when Nkrumah launched the campaign, riots erupted throughout the capital,Accra.[2][3][4][5]
The Positive Action campaign accelerated the march towards independence. Nkrumah was elected leader of Government Business in the Legislative Assembly in February 1951 and released from prison to take up this role.Walter Sisulu, Secretary General of theAfrican National Congress sent a letter of congratulations which was published in theAccra Evening News, a newspaper founded by Nkrumah on 28 February 1951.[6]
The transformation of the Gold Coast from a British colony to an independent nation was underway. The Gold Coast officially became independent Ghana on 6 March 1957.
