In his 6 March 2023 Independence Day Address at Ho, it was extremely refreshing and comforting to note that H.E the President boldly referred to the British Togoland. “I am referring, of course, to the 1956 plebiscite in which, on May 9 of that year, the people of the then British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast on the attainment of her independence a year later. Without that significant historical event, we would not have Ghana as we know it today”
However, this refreshing piece reference tells only part of the story. By UN Resolution 1044(XI) Britain was, after the plebiscite results were declared, invited to take such steps as necessary to bring about the union between British Togoland and independent Gold Coast
But was there any political union effected between Independent Gold Coast (Ghana) and the UN Trust Territory of Togoland under Britain (British Togoland) on 6 March 1957 as claimed by the Notification Letter sent by Britain to the UN Secretary-General?
The Notification Letter stated in part that,
“…Under the 1957 Ghana Independence Act the Union of the former Trust Territory of Togoland under Britain with the independent State of Ghana took place with effect from mid-night on 5/6 March, 1957.”
It is common knowledge and universally accepted that forming a political union in this era between different/separate states or even colonies/territories had to be done democratically under due process, negotiation and dialogue. Unfortunately, in the case of Ghana and British Togoland, Britain did not allow that.
The Notification Letter claimed that the union was formed under the 1957 Ghana Independence Act. But that Act was not applicable nor had it any relevance to British Togoland. In fact, the 1957 Ghana Independence Act was wrongly applied to Togoland. It was an inappropriate and wrong Act which was not suitable or appropriate for effecting or bringing about the Ghana-Togoland Union.
Did the 1957 Ghana Independence Act bring about the Ghana-British Togoland Union? That was extremely doubtful but Britain claimed it did! If Britain and her collaborators in the UN claimed it did then,
(1) How and where was the Union negotiated and enacted and who were the contracting parties?
(2) Where was the Union Document/Agreement/Deal that recognized, supported and gave the union legal acceptance and backing?
(3) Where was the Union government and how was it constituted?
(4) Where and when was the Union celebrated or marked?
(5) Where and what were the Union’s coat of arms, flag and union anthem?
(6) What type of union government was formed? Was it unitary, federal, monarchy or some other?
(7) Did the so-called partner in the union, independent Gold Coast (Ghana), accept and approve of the Union?
This question cannot be answered because the Gold Coast did not participate in the May 1956 Plebiscite
The Notification Letter was not only misleading, bogus and fraudulent but also a sham and it should have been treated as such. The UN should have scrutinized and conducted stringent due diligence on it. It is very clear and obvious that instead of a union, similar to that of England and Scotland, that was prescribed by UN resolution 944(X); voted for by the people of Togoland; approved by the Trusteeship Council resolution 1496 and equally approved by UN Resolution 1044(XI), forcible integration, like Morocco and Saharawi, was rather unfairly and unjustifiably imposed on British Togoland. This was, and is still, wrong and it must be rectified without any further delay.
As stated earlier, the 1957 Ghana Independence Act was not applicable or appropriate to British Togoland. The Act was meant for the Gold Coast and its component parts, Gold Coast Colony, Ashanti and the Northern Territories. The title of the Act clearly stated it “An Act to make provision for, and in connection with, the attainment by the Gold Coast of fully responsible status within the British Commonwealth of Nations” (7th February, 1957). The section of the Gold Coast (Constitution) Order in Council, 1954 which was smuggled into the 1957 Act to implicate British Togoland was superfluous and inconsequential because Togoland was a UN Trust Territory which was administered by Britain on behalf of the UN. Togoland was not a British colony, Britain was just holding it in trust for the UN.
To that extent, the UN Charter and Trusteeship Agreement on Togoland took precedence over the Gold Coast (Constitution) Order in Council, 1954. With regards to Togoland, British laws and ordinances were inferior to and “subject to the provisions of the United Nations Charter and of this Agreement” (Trusteeship Agreement on British Togoland Article 5(a)). Britain should have sought and obtained permission from the UN before including British Togoland or any part of it in the 1954 Gold Coast Constitution. What was more, the 1957 Ghana Independence Act violated the principles of retroactive legislation
It must be noted that the British Togoland, on the pretext of quelling a rebellion there, was invaded and occupied by Britain and the CPP Government around 4th March 1957. You may well recollect the brutal Alavanyo/Kpando crisis! After the occupation, British Togoland was subsequently forcibly integrated with independent Gold Coast (Ghana) on March 6 1957. Through this forcible integration British Togoland lost its national identity, dignity and inalienable rights. Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clarke, the last Governor of the Gold Coast, described this as the triumph of Gold Coast imperialism. “I am glad that Gold Coast imperialism has won.” Definitely, the imposition of Gold Coast imperialism on British Togoland was wrong and contrary to UN’s Charter and principles.
Note that UN resolutions 944(X) and 1044(XI) resolved that there should be a UNION, similar to England/Scotland model, not forcible integration like the Morocco/Saharawi model. Remember that the people of Togoland voted for union, not forcible integration or occupation. But what Britain installed on March 6 1957 was not a union but forcible integration.
How can the British Togoland Question be solved?
It is very clear that the British Togoland Question can only be solved if, and only if, the UNION (England/Scotland model) that was cited by UN Resolution 944(X); voted for by the people of British Togoland in the May 9 1956 Togoland Plebiscite and approved by UN Resolution 1044(XI) is accepted, respected and implemented to the letter. This must be the concern of Britain, Ghana, the UN and the International Community.
But it is necessary to ensure that the resolution of this Togoland Question should be done peacefully through negotiation, dialogue, due process and diplomacy devoid of state arbitrary behavior, harassment, prosecution and intimidation.
Issued by Former MP for Hohoe South
(Hon KOSI KEDEM.)
Katika hotuba yake ya siku ya uhuru ya Machi 6, 2023 huko Ho, ilikuwa ya kuburudisha na ya faraja sana kuona kwamba Rais alitaja kwa ujasiri Togoland ya Uingereza. "Hii ni kwa sababu ya kura ya maoni ya 1956 ambayo ilifanyika tarehe 9 Mei mwaka huo ambapo watu wa Togoland ya Uingereza walipiga kura kuungana na Gold Coast wakati wa kupata uhuru mwaka mmoja baadaye.""" Bila tukio hilo muhimu la kihistoria, hatungekuwa na Ghana kama tunavyoijua leo. Hata hivyo, kumbukumbu hii ya kipande cha kuburudisha inaelezea sehemu tu ya hadithi. "Kwa mujibu wa azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa la 1044 (XI), Uingereza ilialikwa kuchukua hatua zinazohitajika ili kuanzisha muungano kati ya Togoland ya Uingereza na Gold Coast huru, lakini je, kulikuwa na muungano wowote wa kisiasa kati ya Gold Coast huru (Ghana) na eneo la Umoja wa Mataifa la Togoland chini ya Uingereza (British Togoland) mnamo Machi 6, 1957 kama ilivyodaiwa na barua ya taarifa iliyotumwa na Uingereza kwa Katibu Mkuu wa Umoja wa Mataifa?""" "Kutokana na Sheria ya Uhuru ya Ghana ya 1957, Umoja wa Wilaya ya Trust ya Togoland chini ya Uingereza na Jimbo huru la Ghana ulifanyika kwa athari kutoka usiku wa manane tarehe 5 Machi, 1957 na ni maarifa ya kawaida na kukubalika kwa ulimwengu wote kwamba kuunda muungano wa kisiasa katika enzi hii kati ya mataifa tofauti au hata koloni au maeneo lazima kufanywa kidemokrasia chini ya utaratibu sahihi, mazungumzo na mazungumzo. """ Kwa bahati mbaya, katika kesi ya Ghana na Togoland ya Uingereza, Uingereza haikuruhusu hilo. "Kulingana na taarifa ya barua hiyo, ""kushirikiana kwa Ghana ni kwa mujibu wa sheria ya uhuru ya Ghana ya mwaka 1957.""" Lakini Sheria hiyo haikuweza kutumika wala haikuwa na umuhimu wowote kwa Togoland ya Uingereza. Sheria ya Uhuru wa Ghana ya 1957 ilitumiwa vibaya kwa Togoland. "Hii ilikuwa ni sheria isiyofaa na isiyofaa ambayo haikuwa sahihi au sahihi kwa ajili ya kutekeleza au kuleta Umoja wa Ghana na Togo. """ Sheria ya Uhuru wa Ghana ya 1957 ilileta Muungano wa Ghana na Togoland ya Uingereza. Hilo lilikuwa jambo lisilo la hakika sana lakini Uingereza ilidai kwamba lilitokea! "Uingereza na washirika wake katika Umoja wa Mataifa walidai kwamba ilifanya hivyo wakati huo: ""Umoja ulifanyikaje na kuanzishwa wapi na ni nani walioshiriki?""" (2) Ni wapi hati ya Muungano iliyotambuliwa, kuungwa mkono na kutoa muungano huo kukubalika kisheria na kuungwa mkono? (3) Serikali ya Muungano ilikuwa wapi na ilianzishwaje? (4) Ni lini na wapi Umoja huo ulifanywa au kuadhimishwa? (5) Ambapo na nini walikuwa Union's coat of arms, bendera na union wimbo? (6) Ni aina gani ya serikali ya muungano iliyoundwa? Je, ilikuwa ya umoja, ya shirikisho, ya ufalme au ya aina nyingine? "Mashirika ya Umoja wa Mataifa, kama vile Gold Coast (Ghana), walikubaliana na kuanzisha Umoja wa Ulaya.""" "Hii haijulikani kwa sababu Gold Coast haikushiriki katika kura ya maoni ya Mei 1956 ""Barua ya Ujumbe haikuwa ya kupotosha tu, bandia na ya udanganyifu, lakini pia ilikuwa ya udanganyifu na inapaswa kutibiwa kama hivyo.""" Umoja wa Mataifa unapaswa kuchunguza na kufanya uchunguzi mkali juu yake. "Hii ni wazi sana na ni dhahiri kwamba badala ya muungano, sawa na ule wa Uingereza na Scotland, ambao ulipendekezwa na azimio la UN 944, uliochaguliwa na watu wa Togoland, uliokubaliwa na azimio la Baraza la Usimamizi 1496 na pia uliokubaliwa na azimio la UN 1044, ushirikiano wa kulazimishwa, kama Morocco na Saharawi, ulilazimishwa kwa njia isiyo ya haki na isiyo ya haki kwa Togoland ya Uingereza. """ Hii ilikuwa, na bado, ni makosa na ni lazima kurekebishwa bila kucheleweshwa zaidi. Sheria ya Uhuru wa Ghana ya mwaka 1957 ilionekana kuwa haifai kwa Togoland ya Uingereza. Sheria hiyo ilikusudiwa kwa Gold Coast na sehemu zake, Gold Coast Colony, Ashanti na Wilaya za Kaskazini. "Sheria ya sheria hiyo ilisema wazi kuwa ""Sheria ya kufanya utoaji wa, na kuhusiana na, kufikia Gold Coast ya hali ya kuwa na jukumu kamili ndani ya Jumuiya ya Madola ya Uingereza"" (Feb." "Katika kifungu cha Amri ya Baraza la Gold Coast (Katiba) ya 1954, ambayo ilifungwa kwa siri katika Sheria ya 1957 ili kuingiza Togoland ya Uingereza, ilikuwa ya ziada na isiyo na maana kwa sababu Togoland ilikuwa ""Utawala wa Uaminifu wa Umoja wa Mataifa"" ambao ulisimamiwa na Uingereza kwa niaba ya Umoja wa Mataifa." Togoland haikuwa koloni ya Uingereza, Uingereza ilikuwa tu ikiishikilia kwa uaminifu kwa Umoja wa Mataifa. Kwa mujibu wa sheria za nchi hiyo, Katiba ya Umoja wa Mataifa na Mkataba wa Usimamizi wa Togoland ni muhimu zaidi kuliko Amri ya Baraza la Gold Coast (Katiba) ya 1954. Kwa habari ya Togoland, sheria na maagizo ya Uingereza yalikuwa ya chini na "yakiwa chini ya masharti ya Mkataba wa Umoja wa Mataifa na ya Mkataba huu" (Mkataba wa Usimamizi juu ya Togoland ya Uingereza kifungu cha 5 (a)). "Mashirika ya kimataifa ya kimataifa yaliomba ruhusa ya Umoja wa Mataifa kabla ya kuingiza Togoland ya Uingereza au sehemu yoyote ya nchi hiyo katika Katiba ya ""Gold Coast"" ya 1954."" Sheria ya Uhuru wa Ghana ya mwaka 1957 ilivunja kanuni za sheria ya retroactive.Togoland ya Uingereza, kwa udanganyifu wa kukandamiza uasi huko, ilivamiwa na kushikiliwa na Uingereza na Serikali ya CPP karibu Machi 4, 1957. Huenda ukakumbuka mgogoro mkali wa Alavanyo/Kpando! Baada ya kutekwa, Togoland ya Uingereza ilijiunga kwa nguvu na Gold Coast huru (Ghana) mnamo Machi 6, 1957. Kupitia ujumuishaji huu wa kulazimishwa Togoland ya Uingereza ilipoteza utambulisho wake wa kitaifa, heshima na haki zisizoweza kuondolewa. Sir Charles Noble Arden-Clarke, Gavana wa mwisho wa Gold Coast, alifafanua hili kuwa ushindi wa utawala wa kifalme wa Gold Coast. "Ninafurahi kwamba utawala wa Gold Coast umeshinda." "Hakika, kulazimishwa kwa utawala wa Gold Coast nchini Togoland ya Uingereza kulikuwa kosa na kinyume na Mkataba na kanuni za Umoja wa Mataifa. "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika Azimio la UN 944, ""Kama ilivyoelezwa katika Azimio la UN 10441, lazima kuwe na Umoja wa Mataifa, sawa na mfano wa Uingereza na Scotland, sio ushirikiano wa kulazimishwa kama mfano wa Morocco na Sahara.""" Kumbuka kwamba watu wa Togoland walipiga kura kwa ajili ya muungano, si kuunganishwa kwa nguvu au uvamizi. Lakini kile ambacho Uingereza ilianzisha tarehe 6 Machi 1957 hakikuwa muungano bali ujumuishaji wa kulazimishwa. Ni nini kinachohusika katika kutatua suala la Togoland? "Toleo la kwanza la ""Mfano wa Uingereza na Scotland"" (UNION) lilitolewa na Umoja wa Mataifa mnamo Mei 9, 1956 na kuidhinishwa na Azimio la Umoja wa Mataifa 1044 (XI)." Hii lazima iwe ni wasiwasi wa Uingereza, Ghana, Umoja wa Mataifa na Jumuiya ya Kimataifa. """Ni muhimu kuhakikisha kwamba utatuzi wa suala la Togoland unafanywa kwa amani kupitia mazungumzo, mazungumzo, utaratibu sahihi na diplomasia, bila tabia ya serikali ya kimabavu, unyanyasaji, mashtaka na vitisho." Imetolewa na Mbunge wa zamani wa Hohoe Kusini (Hon KOSI KEDEM.)