When Ghana’s independence story is told, the spotlight usually falls on towering male leaders like Kwame Nkrumah and J. B. Danquah. But behind the headlines, and often on the frontlines, Ghanaian women played decisive roles in resisting colonial rule.
Women organized protests, led boycotts, financed political movements, and sustained morale during some of the toughest moments of the struggle. Their efforts were central to the nation’s fight for liberation.
Not to mention, Queen Mothers, or other inspirational women in Ghana, women in general have contributed enormously to Ghana’s development. In this article we will explore how a group of remarkable women helped shape Ghana Independence in particular.
Women as the Economic Backbone of Resistance
Colonial policies disrupted local trade and imposed strict controls on goods such as cocoa, salt, and textiles. Market women, who dominated Ghana’s trading economy, resisted these intrusions fiercely. They staged boycotts, refused to sell under unfair conditions, and used their control of food and supplies to frustrate colonial authorities.
One striking example was the “cocoa hold-up” of the 1930s and 1940s, when farmers refused to sell cocoa to European trading firms. Women ensured the movement’s success by halting distribution, withdrawing their labor, and supporting the boycotts at every stage.
Market Queens as Political Leaders
Naa Morkor Busia – Prof. Kofi Abrefa Busia Facebook Page
Market queens, respected leaders among women traders, were particularly influential. They mobilized thousands of women, raised funds for nationalist groups, and provided food and shelter for demonstrators.
Naa Morkor Busia, a prominent market queen, became central during the 1948 riots, which erupted after ex-servicemen protesting colonial injustices were shot.
Market women in Accra closed their stalls, joined protests, and gave the riots both moral weight and practical support.
Their actions showed that resistance was not the preserve of men but it was a collective struggle.
Women and the 1948 Riots
The 1948 riots marked a turning point in Ghana’s independence movement. Women were at the forefront: inciting crowds, challenging police, and joining street battles. They sang war songs, hurled stones, and offered food and water to keep protests alive.
In both Accra and Kumasi, women’s participation amplified the unrest and spread resistance far beyond the cities. Oral histories recall their defiant chants and the courage they displayed in the face of colonial police brutality.
From the UGCC to the CPP: Women in Party Politics
Women also shaped the emerging political movements of the 1940s and 1950s. The United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC) drew support from women traders, but it was Kwame Nkrumah’s Convention People’s Party (CPP) that fully embraced women’s mobilization.
Hannah Kudjoe
Hannah Kudjoe became one of the most remarkable Ghanaian female figures of the independence struggle.
A schoolteacher turned activist, she became a close ally of Nkrumah. Kudjoe organized rallies, spread propaganda, and traveled extensively to mobilize rural communities.
When Nkrumah and other CPP leaders were imprisoned during the “Positive Action” campaign in 1950, Kudjoe kept the movement alive, rallying support, raising funds, and sustaining morale.
Women’s Organizations and Collective Action
Beyond individual figures, women formed associations that became crucial to the independence struggle. Groups like the Ghana Women’s League and Market Women’s Associations raised funds, educated women politically, and supported the CPP’s grassroots campaigns.
The Ghana Women’s League, led by Evelyn Amarteifio and others, linked women’s rights to the broader nationalist agenda. These organizations ensured that women’s issues, from access to resources to political inclusion, were tied to the liberation movement.
Resistance in Rural Ghana
Outside the major cities, rural women also resisted colonial oppression. In cocoa-growing areas, women traders supported strikes and opposed exploitative taxes. Many took risks to defend their livelihoods and communities against colonial authorities.
Traditional leaders also played a part: queen mothers, as custodians of customary power, sometimes challenged chiefs who collaborated with colonial officials. Their positions gave them influence in both local politics and nationalist movements.
Nowadays, Women Shea Cooperatives in more rural areas of Ghana, specially Northern Ghana which is where these women cooperatives are mostly located, support women in becoming financially independent.
Remembering Women’s Place in Ghana’s Liberation
Ghana’s independence in 1957 was not won by men alone. Market queens, rural farmers, political organizers, and everyday women all played indispensable roles. They resisted economically, socially, and politically, often at great personal risk. Yet, their stories remain overshadowed in many official accounts of the nationalist struggle..
