British Togoland, officially the Mandate Territory of Togoland and later officially the Trust Territory of Togoland, was a territory in West Africa, under the administration of the United Kingdom, which subsequently entered into union with Ghana, part becoming its Volta Region. It was effectively formed in 1916 by the splitting of the German protectorate of Togoland into two territories, French Togoland and British Togoland, during the First World War. Initially, it was a League of NationsClass B mandate. In 1922, British Togoland was formally placed under British rule while French Togoland, now Togo, was placed under French rule.
Following the Second World War, the political status of British Togoland changed – it became a United Nations Trust Territory, although still administered by the United Kingdom. During the decolonization of Africa, a status plebiscite was organised in British Togoland in May 1956 to decide the future of the territory. 58% voters taking part voted to merge the territory with the neighbouring British Crown colony of the Gold Coast which was heading towards independence, rather than remaining a trusteeship and awaiting developments in French Togoland. On 13 December 1956, the United Nations General Assembly passed General Assembly resolution 1044 on "The future of Togoland under British administration". By that resolution, the UN acknowledged the outcome of the plebiscite held in the Territory which was a majority in favour of union with the Gold Coast. The resolution recommended that the United Kingdom effect the union of British Togoland with Gold Coast upon the independence of Gold Coast. To achieve this, under the Ghana Independence Act 1957 the United Kingdom annexed British Togoland to form part of Her Majesty's dominions comprising the Dominion of Ghana.[1]
In a letter dated 6 March 1957, the United Kingdom Government informed the Secretary-General of the United Nations that with effect from midnight 6 March 1957, under the terms of the Ghana Independence Act 1957, the territories previously comprised in the Gold Coast became the independent State of Ghana and that under the same Act, the union of the former Trust Territory of Togoland under British administration with the independent State of Ghana took place from the same time and date.[2][3]
British Togoland's capital was Ho, which presently serves as the capital of Volta Region. The region includes much of the former mandate's territory.
After World War II, the mandate became a United Nations trust territory administered by the United Kingdom. Prior to the mandate and trusteeship periods, British Togoland was administered as part of the adjoining territory of the Gold Coast, under the name of Trans-Volta Togo (TVT).[4]
Togoland Congress
In 1954, the British government informed the UN that it would be unable to administer the Trust Territory after 1957. In response, in December 1955, the UN General Assembly passed a resolution advising the British government to hold a plebiscite on the future of British Togoland.
On 9 May 1956, this plebiscite was held under UN supervision with the choice between formal integration with the future independent Gold Coast or continuation as a Trust Territory.
The Togoland Congress campaigned against integration. There was vocal opposition to the incorporation of Togoland from the Ewe people who voted against in British Togoland, as the Ewe wanted the unification of the Ewe people in British Togoland and French Togoland as a separate Ewe state (modern Togo).[5]
It was reported that the vote results was 42% against from the Ewe people (Togoland Congress), and 58% for integration.
^McLaughlin (1994), "The Politics of the Independence Movements".
Further reading
Bourret, Florence Mabel. Gold Coast: A survey of the Gold Coast and British Togoland, 1919–1946. (Stanford University Press, 1949). online
Kurtas, Susan (9 October 2019). "Research Guides: UN Documentation: Trusteeship Council: Togoland under British administration". research.un.org. United Nations. Retrieved 20 February 2020. Agreement, Petitions, Reports of Administering Power, and Reports of Visiting Missions
Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Togoland.
british, togoland, officially, mandate, territory, togoland, later, officially, trust, territory, togoland, territory, west, africa, under, administration, united, kingdom, which, subsequently, entered, into, union, with, ghana, part, becoming, volta, region, . British Togoland officially the Mandate Territory of Togoland and later officially the Trust Territory of Togoland was a territory in West Africa under the administration of the United Kingdom which subsequently entered into union with Ghana part becoming its Volta Region It was effectively formed in 1916 by the splitting of the German protectorate of Togoland into two territories French Togoland and British Togoland during the First World War Initially it was a League of Nations Class B mandate In 1922 British Togoland was formally placed under British rule while French Togoland now Togo was placed under French rule Territory of British Togoland1916 1956Flag Coat of armsBritish Togoland left beside French Togoland now Togo right StatusTrust Territory of British EmpireCapitalHoCommon languagesEnglish French Ewe Gur and Ghana Togo languagesHistory Occupation27 August 1914 Partitioning27 December 1916 Admission by the Gold Coast27 December 1916 13 December 1956 League of Nations mandate20 July 1922 20 April 1946 U N Trust Territory13 December 1946 6 March 1957 Addition to the Gold Coast13 December 1956 Annexed to Her Majesty s dominions to form part of the Dominion of Ghana6 March 1957CurrencyBritish West African poundPreceded by Succeeded byTogoland Gold Coast British colony Today part ofGhanaFollowing the Second World War the political status of British Togoland changed it became a United Nations Trust Territory although still administered by the United Kingdom During the decolonization of Africa a status plebiscite was organised in British Togoland in May 1956 to decide the future of the territory 58 voters taking part voted to merge the territory with the neighbouring British Crown colony of the Gold Coast which was heading towards independence rather than remaining a trusteeship and awaiting developments in French Togoland On 13 December 1956 the United Nations General Assembly passed General Assembly resolution 1044 on The future of Togoland under British administration By that resolution the UN acknowledged the outcome of the plebiscite held in the Territory which was a majority in favour of union with the Gold Coast The resolution recommended that the United Kingdom effect the union of British Togoland with Gold Coast upon the independence of Gold Coast To achieve this under the Ghana Independence Act 1957 the United Kingdom annexed British Togoland to form part of Her Majesty s dominions comprising the Dominion of Ghana 1 In a letter dated 6 March 1957 the United Kingdom Government informed the Secretary General of the United Nations that with effect from midnight 6 March 1957 under the terms of the Ghana Independence Act 1957 the territories previously comprised in the Gold Coast became the independent State of Ghana and that under the same Act the union of the former Trust Territory of Togoland under British administration with the independent State of Ghana took place from the same time and date 2 3 British Togoland s capital was Ho which presently serves as the capital of Volta Region The region includes much of the former mandate s territory Contents 1 United Nations trust territory 1 1 Togoland Congress 2 See also 3 References 4 Further readingUnited Nations trust territory EditAfter World War II the mandate became a United Nations trust territory administered by the United Kingdom Prior to the mandate and trusteeship periods British Togoland was administered as part of the adjoining territory of the Gold Coast under the name of Trans Volta Togo TVT 4 Togoland Congress Edit In 1954 the British government informed the UN that it would be unable to administer the Trust Territory after 1957 In response in December 1955 the UN General Assembly passed a resolution advising the British government to hold a plebiscite on the future of British Togoland On 9 May 1956 this plebiscite was held under UN supervision with the choice between formal integration with the future independent Gold Coast or continuation as a Trust Territory The Togoland Congress campaigned against integration There was vocal opposition to the incorporation of Togoland from the Ewe people who voted against in British Togoland as the Ewe wanted the unification of the Ewe people in British Togoland and French Togoland as a separate Ewe state modern Togo 5 It was reported that the vote results was 42 against from the Ewe people Togoland Congress and 58 for integration See also EditWestern TogolandReferences Edit Commonwealth and Colonial Law by Kenneth Roberts Wray London Stevens 1966 P 789 UN Publication entitled The Future of the Togolands Archived 17 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine General Assembly Eleventh Session General Assembly resolution 1044 on The future of Togoland under British administration Volta Region Archived 26 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine McLaughlin 1994 The Politics of the Independence Movements Further reading EditBourret Florence Mabel Gold Coast A survey of the Gold Coast and British Togoland 1919 1946 Stanford University Press 1949 online Kurtas Susan 9 October 2019 Research Guides UN Documentation Trusteeship Council Togoland under British administration research un org United Nations Retrieved 20 February 2020 Agreement Petitions Reports of Administering Power and Reports of Visiting Missions Wikimedia Commons has media related to British Togoland Coordinates 6 23 43 N 0 28 13 E 6 3953 N 0 4703 E 6 3953 0 4703 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title British Togoland amp oldid 1140895628, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
