The Big Six (Ghana)

Na **The Big Six** be six leaders of de United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC), one of de leading political parties insyd de British colony of de Gold Coast, dem know after independence as Ghana. Na dem detain dem by de colonial authorities insyd 1948 dey follow disturbances wey lead to de killing of three World War II veterans. Dem be pictured on de front of de Ghana cedi notes.

## The Big Six
Dem consider dem de founding fathers of present-day Ghana, na de members of de Big Six be:

* Kwame Nkrumah – first prime minister den first presido of Ghana
* Ako Adjei – founding member of de UGCC
* Edward Akufo-Addo – founding member of de UGCC den subsequently chief justice den presido of Ghana
* Joseph Boakye Danquah – founding member of de UGCC
* Emmanuel Obetsebi-Lamptey – founding member of de UGCC
* William Ofori Atta – founding member of de UGCC

## Background

### AWAM boycott
Na an organized boycott of European imports take place insyd January 1948. Na de aim be say make dem get de foreign traders dem know as de Association of West African Merchants (AWAM) make dem reduce de prices of dema goods. Na dis be followed by a series of riots insyd early February 1948. Na dem schedule de boycotts make e end on 28 February 1948, a day wey cam be significant insyd de history of Ghana. AWAM cam be a term synonymous plus cheating anaa profiteering insyd Ghana.

### Christianborg cross-roads shooting
On 20 February 1948, na Dr. Nkrumah den Dr. J. B. Danquah meet den address World War II veterans wey na dem dey agitate for dema end-of-service benefits following World War II at de Palladium Cinema, Accra. Na dese veterans fight plus de Gold Coast Regiment of de Royal West African Frontier Force wey na dem no bia dema gratuities on dema return home. Na Nkrumah den Danquah both give dema support wey na dem encourage de veterans insyd dema protest over dema post-war neglect.

On 28 February, wat cam be known as de "Christianborg Cross-Roads shooting" occur. Na sam Second World War veterans march go de Christianborg Castle, de seat of de colonial government. Na dem intend make dem submit a petition to de Governor, Sir Gerald Creasy about dema poor conditions, unpaid war benefits den neglect. Na Police Superintendent Colin Imray, a British police officer, order de veterans make dem disperse, buh na dem refuse. Na he then order ein men make dem open fire on de unarmed soldiers, wen na dem refuse, he open fire einself killing three of dem namely, Sergeant Cornelius Frederick Adjetey, Private Odartey Lamptey den Corporal Attipoe. Na dis lead to anoda round of riots den looting insyd Accra during wich na dem loot foreign (European den Asian) stores. Na de riots last for five days.

## De arrest of The Big Six
Dat same day, after all de wahala, de UGCC leaders send message straight to Secretary of State for London.If dem no change Colonial Government sharp-sharp, den bring real Government wey go serve de people den dema Chiefs, wahala go dey! Masses dey loose control, strike dey loom for Police area, wey Police no dey answer Officer orders! Dis one fi lead to more violent den bad behaviour from people wey no get control again.Na Working Committee wey dey represent United Gold Coast Convention talk say dem ready to take over interim Government. We dey ask in de name of de people wey dey suffer, wey no fi talk, wey dey misrule den misgovern, den dema Chiefs say make dem send Special Commissioner sharp-sharp to hand over de Government to de interim Government of Chief den de People, den to witness make dem call de Constituent Assembly gree, quick quick.Na dem sanso blame Sir Gerald Creasy (whom na dem call "Crazy Creasy") for de riots secof how na he handle de country ein problems.

On 1 March 1948, na dem read de Riot Act. After dat, na Sir Gerald issue a Removal Order for de arrest of de six leaders of de UGCC wey na dem hold insyd de remote northern part of de Gold Coast dey follow dema arrests. Na dem establish wey dem name a commission of enquiry de Watson Commission wey be chaired by Mr Brian Otwerebemah make e investigate de riots. Na members of de Watson commission include Dr Keith Murray, Mr Andrew Dalgleish den Mr E. G. Hanrott.

Dey follow dema incarceration, na de nationalists cam be known as de Big Six while na dema popularity increase.

On 8 March 1948, na sam teachers den students demonstrate against de detention of de Big Six buh na dem dismiss dese demonstrators. Upon ein release, na Dr. Nkrumah set up a secondary school, Ghana National College insyd Cape Coast, give de dismissed staff den students.
## References


## External links

* Pictures of "The Big Six"

:* AfricaWithin.com
:* GhanaWeb.com
:* Ten Thousand Cedis note