The National Liberation Movement emerged in Asante after the 1954 election, which the Convention People's Party won despite internal divisions. The movement assembled CPP rebels, local leaders, and chiefs into a political force that the extract describes as both powerful and often violent. Its rise became a major obstacle to the rapid completion of negotiations with London over self-government.

Many chiefs had opposed the CPP and now felt able to support an open campaign against independence under the movement's banner. The Asantehene was identified as a particularly important figure in this crusade. The movement therefore joined political opposition to the CPP with a defence of chiefly and regional interests in Asante.

Cocoa economics sharpened the conflict. The government fixed the price paid to farmers for four years at less than a third of ruling world prices, partly to combat inflation and partly to raise development funds from the difference. Because half of the country's cocoa was grown in Asante, farmers, traders, merchants, and landlords in Kumasi resented the restriction of money flowing into the region.

The movement appeared strong enough for the British to demand another election in 1956 before final negotiations. The result showed overwhelming CPP strength in the colony, with minority but significant support in Asante and the north. The extract presents this election as confirming that the CPP retained sufficient strength to proceed toward independence.