Formation of National Liberation Movement(NLM) in 1954
The National Liberation Movement (NLM) was formed by some Akan traditional leaders and rebels of the Convention People’s Party after the 1954 elections.
It was launched in Prince of Wales park in Kejetia in the Ashanti region on 19 September 1954.
The movement was supported by 50 paramount chiefs in the Ashanti and it environs. The brain behind the formation of NLM was the chief Lindquist of Asante Hene,Barffour Osei Akotto with their motto “Yate Yen Ho”.(We have separated ourselves).
The National Liberation Movement NLM was basically formed following the announcement of the results of the 1954 elections in which Joseph Boakye Danquah lost to his opponent Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.
The leaders of NLM realized that excessive centralisation of authority and destruction of democracy would occur under CPP
Another reason behind the formation of NLM was linked to impact of the cocoa industry.Before the CPP came into power,it opposed the colonial rule vehemently on the cutting of down of cocoa tress affected by swollen Pods disease which contributed to the 1948 riot which won the admiration and support from the local farmers. But when the CPP came into power, they neglected and failed to fulfill their promise they made during their campaign to drive colonialism away. They make it known to the farmers that they will do their Maximum best to compensate the farmers who were affected by the European Operation
The NLM stood up for most of the cocoa farmers to protest against the Convention People’s Party due to their inability to fulfill their promise.
Still related to the cocoa, another reasons for the NLM’s formation was the passage of the Cocoa duty and Development Ordinance. The CPP asserted that since the world Price of other crops on the international market had reduced drastically, cocoa prices would also reduce contrary to CPP’s campaign to increase the price. The angered the farmers of cocoa growing areas who together with their chiefs gave impetus to the NLM.
Also NLM felt that Nkrumah was becoming dictatorial. Before its formation, Kwame Nkrumah had conducted himself in such a way to mean that strong opposition was needed to stop him becoming a dictator.
The Ghana Congress party could not offer strong opposition to CPP and this geard to the formation of NLM
Another factor led to the formation of NLM can be linked to some people within the CPP, there were certain people who felt that CPP was convincing the colonial administration to delay independence. There were certain radicals who felt to join NLM because the CPP were not being straightforward with it motion of attaining independence.
One key activities of the NLM was advocating for a Federal system of government and the drawing of a federal Constitution. In advocating for Federalism, the NLM put several arguments forward to in support of their agen.
The NLM argued that the colony had legislative council; Ashanti was annexed in 1901 and join the colony in 1946. The. Northern Territories were a protectorate till 1951 and Togoland was governed exclusively by the colonial Governor. This means that the People have been ruled separately by the same government for a longer under a federation. Since they have been ruled differently at the same time, a federation was not out of place.
The NLM also demanded for the setting up a Council of states which would involves chiefs to serve as an advisory body to the government and the Governor
Due to NLM’s agitation for a federal Constitution,1957 independent constitution established regid procedure to involves chiefs in the political administration by setting up Council of states which will comprises traditional.
They failed to establish broad -based party.
Their movement was tribal and sectional in nature and could not opposed the Nkrumah’s led CPP