Papers connected with the Bantams and Nkawe Stools, Asantehene Prempeh, and others, 1920-1923
folder
Held at the Weston Library
The first 47 leaves here concern the enquiry held by Harper to settle a dispute about the relationship between the Bantama and Nkawe Stools, the Chiefs concerned being, respectively, Kwami Chem and Kobina Kufuor:
- (fols. 1-31) reports of the hearings, including verbatim evidence of witnesses, 11 Jun-26 Jul 1920
- (fols. 32-40) Harper's summing up and decision, 29 Jul 1920
- (fols. 41-43) report from Harper to the Colonial Secretary, Accra, enclosing a copy of a petition to the Governor from Kobina Kofuor dated 12 Jan, and stating that he could see no reason for a reconsideration of his decision, 26 May 1921
- (fols. 44-47) memorandum by Harper on the results of his research into records that might have a bearing on the case, and specifying the relations that should in future exist between the Stools of Bantama and Nkawe. There are references to recommendations previously made to the Governor by Sir Francis Fuller, former Chief Commissioner, Ashanti, [1921].
Following this, the contents are as follows:
- (fols. 48-69) a paper by R.S. Rattray entitled 'Princess Mary's Silver Stool', concerning a stool presented to the Princess by the women of Ashanti on the occasion of her marriage. The paper outlines the status of Ashanti women, quoting from an article on matrilineal descent, and describes the making and consecration of the stool and its significance. It concludes with a translation of the speech made to Lady Guggisberg, wife of the Governor, when the stool was presented to her by Sewa Akoto of Mampon, the Senior Queen Mother, for transmission to Princess Mary, Apr 1922
- (fols. 70-113) draft, with emendations, of an Address by Harper on Land Customs and Land Questions in the Gold Coast (Ghana), covering the religious, economic, and political aspects of the land, n.d.
- (fol. 114) fragment of notes or index concerning land laws, n.d.
- (fols. 115-124) letter from Harper to the Colonial Secretary, Accra, about the petition signed by certain chiefs praying for the return from the Seychelles of former King Prempeh [deported in 1896, when Ashanti was declared a British Protectorate]. The letter gives an account of the history of Ashanti during Prempeh's time, and quotes Sir Francis Fuller on the policy of the administration of Ashanti. Harper gave his opinion that Prempeh should not return to the Gold Coast (Ghana) for three or four years, but might be allowed to live in Lagos, 23 Nov 1921
- (fols. 125-130) copy of a despatch from the Administrator of the Seychelles, Phillip B. Petrides, to the Governor of the Gold Coast (Ghana), Guggisberg, covering a petition submitted to Petrides by three Ashanti ex-chiefs, political prisoners in the Seychelles, begging to be allowed to return to the Gold Coast (Ghana). Also attached to the despatch is a copy of a letter from C.E.D.O. Rew, Acting Chief Commissioner, Ashanti, to the Colonial Secretary, Accra, about the return of the prisoners. This despatch was forwarded by Guggisberg to Winston Churchill, Secretary of State for the Colonies, and transmitted by him to Harper, on leave in England, with a covering note asking for his views on this matter and on the question or Prempeh's return, 25 May-28 Jun 1922
- (fol. 131) minute by L.H. Wheatley, Provincial Commissioner, Eastern Provinces Ashanti, deprecating the proposal to allow Prempeh to return to the Gold Coast (Ghana), 10 Jan 1923
- (fols. 132-133) letter from Harper to the Colonial Secretary, Accra, about Prempeh's return, with a request that his previous letter (see above, fols. 115-124) be transmitted to the Secretary of State, and referring also to Wheatley's minute (fol. 131), 23 Jan 1923.
Dates
- Creation: 1920-1923
Extent
47 Leaves
Language of Materials
- English
Shelfmark
MSS. Brit. Emp. s. 344/2, folder 3
Repository Details
Part of the Bodleian Libraries Repository
Contact:
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk
Weston Library
Broad Street
Oxford OX1 3BG United Kingdom
specialcollections.enquiries@bodleian.ox.ac.uk