Imperialism and the End of Chieftaincy in Colonial Ghana, 1925-1950

Year 2023, , 495 - 510, 28.04.2023

Usman Abass

https://doi.org/10.21547/jss.1218903

Cited By: 1

Abstract

Nearly all the literature on colonialism in Africa focuses on African resistance rather than the roles of the Traditional Rulers in its formation. Thus, this paper is a deviation from that. This paper intends to portray the position of the Chiefs in the colonial enterprise, and how it led to the decline of the chieftaincy institution in Ghana. In doing so, I trace the events that attracted Europeans and subsequently led to the imposition of colonialism in Ghana, and how those interactions modify the status quo thus leading to new social stratifications and hierarchical formations. The peak of European imperialism’s drive coincided with the formative stages of most African States. So, it prevented the development of large States on the African continent. The study, thus, explores the impact of British imperialists and administrators in colonial Ghana in the face of the modus operandi and modus vivendi of the Chiefs. Although the Gold Coast Colony was established in July 1874, the Chiefs remained at the helm of affairs until they decided in 1925 to work with the colonial regime in administering the territory. Thus, as this “error” indubitably marked the beginning of the end for the Chiefs and the Chieftaincy Institution, it paved the way for the emergence of the leadership of the educated class by the middle of the twentieth century. The paper uses archival sources with secondary sources. The archival documents will explicate how deeply the Chiefs partook in establishing Colonialism in Ghana.

Keywords

Chiefs, Native Authority Ordinance, Ghana

Imperialism and the End of Chieftaincy in Colonial Ghana, 1925-1950

Abstract

Afrika'da sömürgecilik üzerine neredeyse tüm literatür, oluşumunda Geleneksel Hükümdarların rollerinden ziyade Afrika direnişine odaklanmaktadır. Dolayısıyla bu makale bundan bir sapmadır. Bu makale, amirlerin sömürge girişimindeki konumunu ve bunun Gana'daki amirlik kurumunun çöküşüne nasıl yol açtığını tasvir etmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bunu yaparken Avrupalıları cezbeden ve ardından Gana'da sömürgeciliğin empoze edilmesine yol açan olayları ve bu etkileşimlerin nasıl statükoyu değiştirdiğini ve böylece yeni toplumsal tabakalaşmalara ve hiyerarşik oluşumlara yol açtığını tasvir etmektedir. Avrupa emperyalizminin dürtüsünün zirvesi, çoğu Afrika devletinin oluşum aşamalarına denk geldi. Bu nedenle Afrika kıtasında büyük devletlerin gelişmesini engelledi. Çalışma, İngiliz emperyalistlerinin ve sömürgeci Gana'daki yöneticilerin, Amirler'in modus operandi ve modus vivendi'si karşısında etkisini araştırıyor. Gold Coast Kolonisi, Temmuz 1874'te kurulmuş olmasına rağmen Amirler, 1925'te bölgeyi yönetmede sömürge rejimiyle çalışmaya karar verene kadar işlerin başında kaldı. Böylece bu “hata”, şüphesiz Amirler ve Amirlik Kurumu için sonun başlangıcını işaret ederken yirminci yüzyılın ortalarında eğitimli sınıf liderliğinin ortaya çıkmasına zemin hazırlamıştır. Çalışmada ikincil kaynaklarla birlikte arşiv kaynakları da kullanılmaktadır. Arşiv kaynakları Gana’daki PRAAD’dan temin edilmiştir. Bu, sömürge Gana’daki değişiklikleri başlatan yerel ve dış politikalar hakkında önemli bilgiler sağlayan amirlik, yerel yönetim sistemi ve yerel ilişkiler hakkındaki verileri içermektedir. Arşiv belgeleri, Amirlerin ülkede sömürge kuralını kurmaya ne kadar derinden dâhil olduğunu ortaya çıkaracaktır.

Keywords

Gana, Amirler, Yerel otorite yönetmeliği, Yöneticiler.

References

• Archival Sources: ARG 1/1/114, “UNION JACKS / FLAGS FOR CHIEFS”, 1923-1932.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, “The Native Authority Ordinance”, PRAAD, 1935.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, J. W. de Graft Johnson, “Memorandum on the Position of the Ohene in the Native Constitution as Affected by the Native Authority Ordinance No. 1 of 1935”, PRAAD, 1938, pp. 1-44.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, J.R. Dickenson, District Commissioner, Mampong-Ashanti, “Proposed Native Authorities Ordinance”, No.810/M.203, PRAAD, 1933.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, District Commissioner, Wenchi, “Native Authorities Ordinance Bill”, No.636/W.5/55//33, PRAAD, 1933.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, District Commissioner, Sunyani, “Proposed Native Authority Ordinance”, No.773/S.9/1933, PRAAD, 1933.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, District Commissioner, Mampong, “Proposed Native Authority Ordinance”, No.879/M.203, PRAAD, 1933.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, G.A.S. Northcote, Colonial Secretary, “Confidential”, No. C./28/33/122, PRAAD, 1934.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, Chief Commissioner, Ashanti, “Confidential”, No. 18/54/33, 6A, PRAAD, 1934.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, Chief Commissioner, Ashanti, “Confidential”, No. 18/54/33, 6B, PRAAD, 1934.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, Chief Commissioner, Ashanti, “Confidential”, No. 18/54/33, 6C, PRAAD, 1934.
• ARG 1/26/1/41, Chief Commissioner, Ashanti, “Confidential”, No. 1267/54/33, PRAAD, 1934.
• ARG 2/1/13, The Gold Coast Chiefs List, PRAAD, 1928-29.
• CSO 21/4/3, District Commissioner, Mampong- Akwapim, No. 639/325/1929, PRAAD, 1929.
• CSO 21/4/3, Benkumhene, Akwapim, PRAAD, 8 July 1929.
• CSO 21/4/3, Benkumhene, Akwapim, PRAAD, 3 August 1929.
• CSO 21/4/3, Attorney General, “Extracted from C.S.M.P.1479/29”, PRAAD, 21 March 1929.
• CSO 21/4/3, Acting Commissioner, Eastern Province, Koforidua, No. 7061/1971/29, PRAAD, 13 September 1929.
• CSO 21/4/18, Nana Bekyire Yankeh II, 1A No. 1108/31, PRAAD, 1938.
• CSO 21/4/3, Acting Secretary for Native Affairs, “Extract from S.NA. Case 5/1928”, PRAAD, 24 September 1929.
• CSO 21/4/3, Commissioner, Central Province, “Regulation of Tolls on Roads”, 51A No. 415/S.N.A.5/1928, PRAAD, 10 June 1930.
• CSO 21/4/3, Acting Secretary for Native Affairs, “Regulation of Tolls on Roads”, 52 No.462/S.N.A.5/1928, Accra. PRAAD, 4 July 1930.
• CSO 21/4/3, Hon. J. Glover-Addo, M.P.10614/29, Accra. PRAAD. 3 September 1930.
• CSO 21/4/3, Omanhene, Effutu-Winneba, No.55/30/E.S.8/1927. PRAAD. 9 September 1930.
• CSO 21/4/3, Omanhene, Mankessim, No. G.L./M.S./64/30, Mankessim, PRAAD.
• CSO 21/4/3, Ofori Atta, Omanhene, Akyem Abuakwa, No. 974/16/30, Akyem. PRAAD. 13 October 1930.
• CSO 21/2/5, Chief Commissioner, Tamale, No. 211/57/1931, PRAAD, 1932.
• CSO 21/2/5, Colonial Secretary, Accra, No. 4/32/24, PRAAD, 1932.
• CSO 21/2/5, P.F. Whittall, Commissioner for Northern Province, “Na of Nalerigu”, Navrongo, No. 158/25/1931, PRAAD, 1932.
• CSO 21/2/5, Chief Commissioner, Tamale, C.S. 85 No. 472/57/1931, PRAAD, 1932.
• CSO 21/2/5, Asst. S.N.A., 20 File 49/32, PRAAD, 1932.
• CSO 21/2/5, Acting Governor, “Order by the Governor”, 25A/B/C, PRAAD, 1932.
• CSO 21/2/18, Chief Commissioner, Colony, No. 002.S.F.2/12, Cape Coast, PRAAD, 1946.
• CSO 21/2/18, “The Petition of the Head Chiefs of Anfoega, Gbi, Ve, Tsrukpe, Goviefe, Likpe, and Santrokofi Divisions” to the Governor Sir Alan Burns, PRAAD, 1945.
• CSO 21/2/18, Mr V.H.K. Littlewood, “Handing Over Notes”, PRAAD.
• CSO 21/2/18, “The Petition of the Head Chiefs of Gbe-Hohoe, Likpe, Ve, Santrokofi, Anfoega, Tsrukpe and Goviefe Divisions” to the Governor Sir Arnold Wienhold Hudson, PRAAD, 1941.
• CSO 21/2/19, Ag. Commissioner, Central Province, “Allowance Paid to Chiefs for Attending Provincial Council Meetings”, No. 1762/C.P.563/26, S.N.A.No.293, Cape Coast, PRAAD, 1934.
• CSO 21/2/19, File 26 No. 1440/31, PRAAD, 1934.
• CSO 21/2/19, Bannerman Martin, Secretary, Provincial Council of Chiefs, Central Province, “Respecting Allowance paid to Chiefs for Attending Provincial Council Meetings”, Saltpond, No. P.C./252/C.P.N.2/1927, PRAAD, 1934.
• CSO 21/2/19, “Minutes of Council Meetings of the 22nd Session of the Central Provincial Council”, Saltpond, 24A, PRAAD, 1932, pp. 1-13.
• CSO 21/2/19, “Minutes of Proceedings of Meetings of the 23rd Session of the Central Provincial Council”, Saltpond, 24B, PRAAD, 1933, pp. 1-18.
• CSO 21/2/19, “Minutes of Proceedings of Meetings of the 24th Session of the Central Provincial Council”, Saltpond, 24C, PRAAD, 1933, pp. 1-35.
• CSO 21/2/19, “Minutes of Proceedings of Meetings of the 25th Session of the Central Provincial Council”, Saltpond, 24D, PRAAD, 1934, pp. 4-16.
• CSO 21/2/19, “Minutes of Proceedings of Meetings of the 27th Emergency Session of the Central Provincial Council”, Saltpond, 25A, PRAAD, 1934, pp. 1-13.
• Secondary Sources:
• Claridge, W. W., & Clifford, H. (1915). A history of the gold coast and Ashanti: From the earliest times to the commencement of the twentieth century, Vol. II, London: John Murray.
• Cruickshank, B. (1853). Eighteen years on the gold coast of Africa: including an account of the native tribes, and their intercourse with Europeans. Vol. I, London: Hurst and Blackett Publishers.
• Ellis, A. B. (1893). A history of the gold coast of West Africa. London: Chapman and Hall.
• Ghana Statistical Service, (2021). Ghana 2021 population and housing census. General Report, Volume 3E.
• Gocking, R. S. (2005). The history of Ghana. Greenwood Publishing Group.
• Harlech, L. (1941). British native policy and administration in tropical Africa. An address delivered on 6 August 1941 to the Witwatersrand Branch of the South African Institute of International Affairs, Johannesburg – South Africa, The S.A. Institute of International Affairs, ARCHIVES, 1-16.
• Johnston, H. H. (1911). The opening up of Africa. New York: Henry Holt and Co.
• Kimble, D. (1963). A political history of Ghana: The Rise of Gold Coast Nationalism, 1850-1928. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
• Lucas, C. P. (1894). A historical geography of the British colonies. Vol. III, West Africa. Oxford: The Clarendon Press.
• Owusu-Ansah, D., & McFarland, D. M. (1995). Historical dictionary of Ghana. Second ed., Scarecrow Press.
• Quayle-Jones, W. H. Sir (1899). Our West African colonies. In The British Empire Series: British Africa with Four Maps, Vol. II, London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co. Ltd., 334-365.
• Salim, M. S. M. (1975). The reactions and attitudes of Africans in Southern Ghana to the British colonial policy of indirect rule, 1925-1951. Unpublished Doctorate Thesis. University of Edinburgh.