[2] The Gold Coast branch was formed during the late Second World War as suggested by the government to assist in the administration of the war-time economic controls.
[2] The operationalization of the Association of West African Merchants led to the boycott of European imports by Theodore Taylor, also known as Nii Kwabena Bonney III, an Accra businessman and chief and Osu Alata Mantse, with the slogan: "We cannot buy; Your prices are too high.
"[2] The boycott coincided with the peaceful match to Osu Castle by war veterans demanding pension pay equal to that of their British counterparts.
[5] This event led to the Riots of 1948 after three of the protesters, namely Sergeant Adjetey, Lance Corporal Attipoe and Private Odartey-Lamptey, were shot dead on 28 February 1948.
This event led to the declaration of martial law and to the arrest of the "Big Six" – the leaders of the United Gold Coast Convention (UGCC).