The desire for constitutional development in British West African Colonies was as a result of the

Analyze the question: It asks what drove the push for constitutional development (e.g., the Clifford Constitution of 1922, Richards Constitution of 1946, Macpherson Constitution of 1951, Lyttelton Constitution of 1954) in the British West African colonies.

Concept: Constitutional development in colonies like Nigeria, Ghana (Gold Coast), Sierra Leone and The Gambia was a response to pressure from within. Educated elites, nationalist leaders, newspapers, political parties and associations such as the NCBWA, NCNC, NNDP, UGCC and the Action Group demanded greater participation in government, and eventually self-rule and independence. Britain revised constitutions largely in response to these demands.

Evaluating the options:

• A. Rigidity of the constitution: A rigid constitution is hard to amend, but this is not what motivated change. The colonial constitutions were imposed and revised by Britain, so rigidity was not the driving force.
• B. Desire of the British to review the constitution: The British did not review the constitutions on their own initiative. They acted reluctantly, usually after nationalist pressure, strikes, protests and events such as the 1948 Accra riots.
• C. Power of traditional rulers: Traditional rulers were often used under indirect rule, but their power did not create the demand for constitutional reform.
• D. Growing agitation of the people for political independence: This is correct. Nationalist movements pushed for more African representation, then self-government, and each new constitution was a response to this pressure.

Exam tip: For questions asking "what caused constitutional change or reform" in colonial West Africa, look for the option mentioning nationalism, agitation, or demand for self-government. The cause is nearly always pressure from Africans, not British generosity.