The riots of 1948 in the gold coast : causes and consequences

Abstract EN

By the end of WWII, the imported consumer goods were so scarce in the Gold Coast (present-day Ghana), and their prices were so high that the cost of living became unbearable for the majority of the population.

The Gold Coasters accused the European firms which were responsible for importing goods of being the direct cause of this situation.

Besides, the British colonial authorities were believed to operate in collusion with these firms, since no measures were taken to alleviate people’s hardships.

Instead, the British authorities maintained a non-committal attitude, thereby favoring indirectly the growth of public discontent.

As a consequence, a large campaign to boycott European goods was launched in the Gold Coast in January 1948.

Despite negotiations between the British colonial government and the campaign leaders, people were still dissatisfied with the outcome and a peaceful march was organized in protest.

However, the march soon took a tragic course after the police opened fire on the demonstrators.

This was the beginning of violent riots which started in Accra (the capital) and spread to major towns after a few days.

As a result, the Gold Coast nationalists’ position was strengthened, and the colonial policy in the Gold Coast was to gradually change in favor of the natives.