Politics in a “Non-political” System: The March 30, 1978 Referendum in Ghana

Extract

It hardly came as a surprise that Ghana's Supreme Military Council obtained, or at least claimed that it had received, the result it wanted at the 30 March 1978 referendum: endorsement of its proposal for Union Government (see Appendix B). In Ghana's unpredictable political climate, the SMC had spared no effort to make the outcome of the referendum as predictable as possible.

The July 1977 decision to call a national referendum was the result of pressures brought to bear on the SMC during the fall of 1976 and the spring of 1977. Widespread dissatisfaction with the management of the economy, coupled with indications that the military intended to remain in power for an indeterminate period led to student strikes which culminated in the 23 June 1977 demand by the Association of Recognized Professional Bodies (ARPB) that the government resign immediately (Resolution …). The ARPB's ultimatum was rejected out of hand by General Acheampong in his dawn broadcast of 1 July 1977. The ensuing general strike of lawyers, doctors, engineers, and other professionals almost paralyzed the country, and the SMC was virtually forced to announce a schedule for the return to civilian rule (see Appendix B). The first phase of the process was to culminate in the March 1978 referendum.

Undoubtedly, the SMC would have preferred a quiet, carefully controlled plebiscite, or more simply, a constitution octroyee which outlawed political parties and permitted, if the SMC thought it necessary, a reversion to full military control. As previous Ghanaian regimes have discovered to their peril, however, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to prevent Ghanaians from openly and forcefully expressing themselves on important political issues. Thus, it was also not surprising that the decision to conduct a referendum released forces pent-up since the NRC took power in 1972.