Chieftaincy and Politics: The Role of Nana Kobina Nketsia IV in the Fight for Independence in Ghana,1945-1957

Abstract

By the first decade of the twentieth century, the whole of Africa, except Ethiopia and Liberia, had been brought under colonial rule by the European powers. Colonialism was indeed seen by the people of the Gold Coast as a canker, and so, the nationalists, both pre-World War 2 and post-World War 2, struggled to overthrow it. Nana Kobina Nketsia IV, a highly educated Paramount Chief of Essikado, Sekondi-Takoradi, also entered the scene and actively supported the nationalist cause for self-government. This paper focuses on the under-recognised contributions of one traditional ruler in Ghana’s anti-colonial struggle and challenges the prevailing narrative, which often focuses solely on figures within the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) and the Convention People’s Party (CPP) by exploring the case of Nana Kobina Nketsia IV. Employing an array of sources such as newspaper articles, interviews and major secondary works, the
paper contends that existing scholarship neglects the significant role played by traditional authorities, like Nana Nketsia IV. The paper aims to enrich Ghana’spolitical history by highlighting his involvement in the nationalist struggle by discussing the roles played by the Chief in the UGCC and the CPP. It also brings to the fore Nana Kobina Nketsia IV’s contribution to Positive Action in Ghana.