This book, originally published in 1967 looks at political institutions in Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Gambia a the time of the establishment of alien rule and goes on to discuss in detail constitutional developments from 1919 to the late 20th Century, paying particular attention to the constitutional arrangements of the Commonwealth West African countries after Independence. Aspects such as the judiciary and the enforcement of law and order, the public services and finance, are discussed in separate chapters. The book ends with a survey of the varying patterns of local government in English-speaking West Africa.