|
Governor Guggisberg and Ghana (1)
|
During his eight years of administration from 1919-1927, Governor
Guggisberg introduced some disappointing measures that left a greater
mark on the economic, social and political developments of the country
than any other period of Ghana's colonial history. Consequently, it
was fitting that any aspect of colonial rule in Ghana should conclude
with an outline appraisal of the policies and work of this extraordinary
governor
Born in Canada in 1869, Guggisberg was taken to England, aged ten,
by his mother who remarried an English Admiral after the death of
her first husband. He entered the army and was commissioned in 1889.
After Guggisberg completed his service in Singapore with the Royal
Engineers and returned to Britain and became an instructor in his
former college, the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich.
In 1902 Gordon Guggisberg's association with Ghana started as an engineer
he was seconded to the Colonial Service and sent out as assistant
director to Ghana, to conduct an extensive survey of the country,
particularly the concessions. Upon returning to England in 1908 he
had gained very valuable experience of Ghana and the people, and was
next sent to southern Nigeria as Director of Surveys.
Armed with his background and his own rich experience as a distinguished
soldier-engineer, Guggisberg set in motion what, in the colonial history
of Britain, was a revolution. Almost two months after assuming office
as governor, he summed up, in legislative council, the main goals
of his administration in the following words:
Whatever decision I may be called upon to make, I promise the people
of Gold Coast (Ghana) that I would be guided by the fact that I am
an engineer, sent out here to superintend the construction of a broad
Highway of Progress along which the races of the Gold Coast may advance………
to those far-off Cities of Promise - the Cities of Final Development,
Wealth and Happiness.
In pursuit of his strong belief in the role of the traditional rulers
in the colonial system, unlike his predecessors, accepted the plea
of the Asante and other personalities in the south, including Nana
Sir Ofori Atta I of Akyem Abuakwa, and secured the approval of the
British government which made it possible for Prempeh I and his followers,
who had been in exile since 1896, to return to Kumase in 1924 and
be-installed as Kumasehene two years later.
After Guggisberg had thus prepared the way, the Asanteman came into
its own again, when in 1935 Nana Sir Agyeman Prempeh II, occupier
of the Golden Stool, was restored as ruler of the entire Asante Kingdom.
But perhaps the most outstanding achievements of Guggisberg's administration
were in the era of economic and social developments. As an engineer,
Guggisberg began his career as governor with a programme of the first
ever ten-year development plan for Ghana.
|
|
|
|
