Gold Coast legislative election, 1946
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Legislative elections were held in the Gold Coast in June 1946.[1] Constitutional amendments on 29 March 1946 enabled the colony to be the first in Africa to have a majority of black members in its legislature;[2] of the Legislative Council's 32 members, 21 were black, including all 18 elected members.[3] The first meeting of the Legislative Council was on 23 July 1946.[3]
Background
A new constitution was promulgated by an Order in Council on 29 March 1946.[2] The new Legislative Council would have 18 elected members and 14 nominated members, and for the first time would oversee the administration of the Ashanti Region, which had previously been directly ruled by the Governor.[2] Four members would be elected from urban areas, whilst the remainder would be elected in the provinces.[2] Members would be elected by joint provincial councils, having previously been elected by provincial councils alone.[2]
The new constitution demanded elections within three months of its promulgation and the first meeting of the Council within four months.[2]
