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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Ex-Servicemen at the Crossroads: Protest and Politics of Post-War Ghana |
Author: | Israel, Adrienne M. |
Year: | 1992 |
Periodical: | Journal of Modern African Studies |
Volume: | 30 |
Issue: | 2 |
Pages: | 359-368 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Ghana |
Subjects: | political conflicts veterans World War II Military, Defense and Arms Politics and Government colonialism History and Exploration |
External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/161198 |
Abstract: | This article examines the impact of World War II on the former Gold Coast (Ghana), and more particularly the role of ex-servicemen in postwar protests. It focuses on the recalled perceptions of a number of ex-servicemen who participated in the developments leading up to the 28 February 1948 march to Christiansburg Castle and the subsequent outbreaks of violence, key events in West Africa's political history. It shows that the returned soldiers, whose grievances were articulated by the Ex-Servicemen's Union, came from diverse classes and ethnic groups. Their potential for political influence was quickly recognized by nationalist leaders who helped to channel their dissatisfaction into demonstrations. Although some ex-servicemen supported British rule, those who actively backed efforts to secure economic benefits for themselves provided politicians with a 'cause', and later an 'incident', which they used to hasten self-rule. Notes, ref. |