Page 73 - Afrika Must Unite

AFRICA MUST UNITE
dictatorial ambition on our part against the disinterested effort
of our opponents to secure a democratic form of government.
The raising by the N.L.M . of the demand for federation was
eagerly seized upon as a hopeful means of fragmenting our small
and largely homogeneous country.
In April 1955, 1 had put the issue of a federal form of govern­
ment before a Select Committee, after having allowed the
Opposition the privilege of five seats in our Constituent
Assembly when they were legally entitled to two. The Com­
m ittee’s report decided against a federated government. In
order to ensure the widest democratic acceptance of a con­
stitution for independence, I sought a Constitutional Adviser
through the British Government and in September, Sir Frederick
Bourne came to advise on the devolution of powers and functions
to the regions. We agreed that there should be decentralization of
certain powers to the regions and, on the basis of Sir Frederick’s
work, we felt confident of majority support for our proposals
when we put them forw ard. The Secretary of State had laid down
two conditions as the prerequisite for the grant of independence:
that a substantial majority of the people should show their
desire for independence in the very near future and that they
should agree upon a constitution that would meet their needs
and be workable. Sir Frederick Bourne came back again as
Constitutional Adviser to the conference which opened at
Achimota on 16 February 1956 to examine his recommenda­
tions. All political parties, traditional councils and other
appropriate bodies were invited to attend. The conference
report agreed upon almost all of Sir Frederick’s recommen­
dations and made the proposal that there should be a House of
Chiefs in each region of the country to discuss social and cultural
legislation.
However, the N.L.M ., in spite of the untiring efforts I made to
secure their co-operation, had refused to take part in the
deliberations and absented themselves from the proceedings.
The terms of the Secretary of State, therefore, had not been fully
met, which had been the opposition’s purpose. Hence we were
made to submit to the general election of 1956, which confirmed
the C.P.P. ascendancy and the desire of the overwhelming
majority of the people for independence and a unitary form of