THE WATSON COMMISSION

The Watson Commission was a Commission of enquiry appointed by Sir Gerald Creasy, Governor of the Gold Coast colony from 1948-1949 to investigate the causes of the 1948 Riot that occurred in Gold Coast in February 28,1948.

The Commission was chaired by Aiken Watson.

On 28 February,1948 the shooting of protesting of ex-servicemen lead to looting and disturbance in the colony Accra particularly .The Leadership of United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC)sent a message the secretary of the colony Arthur Jones in London blaming the Governor Creasey as the causes of the riot.

The leaders were arrested and detained they became known as the “Big Six”.

The British government commissioned the Watson Commission to probe the causes of the disturbances.

The reference of the Commission was to enquire into the report on the recent disturbance in the Gold Coast and their underlying causes; and to make the recommendation on any matter arising from the enquiry ”

The Commission was made up of Aiken Watson as Chairman, Andrew Dalgleish and Keith A. H Murray.

The Watson Commission reported that the 1946 Constitution was inappropriate from start, because it did not address the concerns of the natives of Gold Coast.

It also recommended that the Gold Coast be allowed to draft its own Constitution .

A Forty Membership committee was set up to draft a Constitution,with Six representatives of the UGCC.

The Governor excluded Dr.Kwame Nkrumah from the constitutional drafting that will demand absolute independence for the colony because of his vision towards independence.