John Mensah Sarbah was born on Friday, 3 June 1864, in Anomabu, in the . You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Although the formation of the ARPS was due to the cumulative effects of colonial rule in the late nineteenth century, the immediate reason for its formation was the Lands Bill. He made a lasting mark on national life in politics, education, and law. Magnus Sampson, Gold Coast Men of Affairs, London, 1937. (The distinction, as he had suggested, was to be abolished in 1960.). Although colonial society was dominated by men, throughout the period of colonial rule several women's groups teamed up with men or supported men in anticolonial protest politics. Answer: In 1897 he worked with JE Casely Hayford, JP Brown, JW de Graft Johnson, and others to form the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society (ARPS). As a legislator he was interested in law reform, and tried his best to prevent the passage of laws inimical to the interests of his countrymen. At the age of 23, he returned to the Gold Coast to set up a legal practice. He entered Lincolns Inn in London in 1884 to study law, and qualified as a barrister in 1887, being the first African from the Gold Coast to gain this qualification. 0000030321 00000 n The Gold Coast When Edward IV Was King, Journal of the African Society, Vol. It has turned out some of the countrys best known public figures in all walks of life, men such as Alex Quaison-Sackey, former President of the General Assembly of UN, Dr. K A Busia, Kofi Annan, the immediate past General Secretary of the United Nations. 50 0 obj 0 He said the late lawyer readily made cash allowances to Cocoa farmers to push the economic development of the Gold Coast. [2] /Linearized 1 After qualifying in his profession, Sarbah returned to the Gold Coast and founded his own private legal practice. Sarbah was chosen by his peers to present the indigenous case against the Lands Bill to the Legislative Assembly, which at the time was composed only of British Crown representatives. 22 29 They sent Sarbah to argue against its passage in the Legislative Council. He therefore helped J. P. Brown, J. W. de Graft Johnson, and others, to form the Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) to watch over the interests of the African population. Some other sources (including Magnus Sampson, 1969) give 6 November 1910 as the date of Mensah Sarbahs death. When the Gold Coast Native Jurisdiction Ordinance (1883) was being amended in 1910, Section 29 caused a stir among the people because they felt it would empower the governor to usurp the rights of the people in the destooling of chiefs. When for some financial reasons, the Wesleyan Mission closed down the Cape Coast Wesleyan School, he and some other nationalists revived it, financed it, and renamed it the Collegiate School. Born in the Gold Coast in 1864, John Mensah Sarbah qualified as a barrister in London and later became a leading critic of British colonial rule, especially in connection with land ownership. Although the ARPS was an alliance between the African intelligentsia and the chiefs or the indigenous rulers, its leadership was mostly made up of educated Africans who were able to use their literacy to negotiate with the colonial government. Alternate Names: Kofi Mensa "The neglected aspects of the activities of the Gold Coast Aborigines Rights Protection Society. WhatsApp : +233204700052 Ghana. 1, Legon, June 1973 (pp. John Mensah Sarbah is said to have given the school its motto (Dwen Hwe Kan, meaning Think and Look Ahead) as well as its emblem. The ARPS remained the voice of colonized Africans until its demise in the 1930s. On his return home, Sarbah, who was generally known as Kofi Mensah, built up a lucrative practice. Members of the hall are known as Vikings as a reference to him who is a true Viking for his country. Several developments in the preceding decades, including the lack of African representation on the Gold Coast Legislative Council, the problem of direct taxation, and the implementation of the Native Jurisdiction Ordinance of 1883, contributed to the formation of the ARPS. John Mensah Sarbah was the first lawyer of the Gold Coast that helped in the documentation of the customary laws of the Gold Coast and present day Ghana. Indeed, by the first two decades of the twentieth century, the influence of the ARPS was being felt colony-wide as it extended its concerns to cover problems of colonial rule, including forced labor and taxation in Asante and the Northern Territories. John Mensah Sarbah was the first lawyer of the Gold Coast that helped in the documentation of the customary laws of the Gold Coast and present day Ghana. For example, society never developed in the adjoining Eastern Province. He became the first native-born Ghanaian to accomplish the feat. The ARPS delegation met with Joseph Chamberlain (18361914), the colonial secretary, with whom they discussed the questions of land, taxation, and constitutional reform. News ), Opera News is a free to use platform and the views and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent, reflect or express the views of Opera News. G. E. Metcalfe, Great Britain and Ghana: Documents on Ghana History 1807-1957, Accra, 1964. Had the Lands Bill been passed, it would have allowed the colonial government to take over so-called waste or public lands in the entire British West Africa. As a legislator he was interested in law reform, and tried his best to prevent the passage of laws inimical to the interests of his countrymen. >> But the chief justice did not accept the proposal, and in this respect matters have not improved much since Sarbahs day, in spite of the fact that all judges are now Africans. Sarbah House, at Mfantsipim, is named for him. 0000014189 00000 n In 1963, a residence hall of the University of Ghana was named Mensah Sarbah Hall in his honour for his services to education,[8] with a statue of John Mensah Sarbah is in front of it. However, the Gold Coast ARPS was interested not only in the protection of the rights of the native peoples in the Gold Coast but also with the larger global struggles of the African diaspora, including the United States, Europe and the West Indies. He founded two newspapers, The Gold Coast People and Gold Coast Weekly, and became an authority on the traditions of the Fante people. Content created and supplied by: Royalvibes (via Opera As a lawyer, John Mensah Sarbah was interested in spreading knowledge of Fanti laws and of theFanti Constitution. /P 0 . He explained that he engaged in massive agriculture financing in the Gold Coast. some cases thereon decided in the Law Courts) Discover new books on Goodreads See if your friends have read any of John Mensah Sarbah's books Join Goodreads He therefore published two books,Fanti Customary Laws(1897), andFanti National Constitution (1906). He made a lasting mark on national life in politics, education, and law. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. As the third child and a male born on Friday, he was called Kofi Mensah at home and by close friends. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. He made a lasting mark on national life in politics, education, and law. Opera News furthermore does not condone the use of our platform for the purposes encouraging/endorsing hate speech, violation of human rights and/or utterances of a defamatory nature. All rights reserved. He was Born into a wealthy family, and studied law in England. 6578), pp. He also proposed that native tribunals should be given a definite and well-defined place in the judicial structure. He also proposed that native tribunals should be given a definite and well-defined place in the judicial structure. He therefore published two books, Fanti Customary Laws (1897), and Fanti National Constitution (1906). Over 50 years after his death, the University of Ghana, in 1963, named Mensah Sarbah Hall after him for his services to education. The Town Councils Ordinance dealt with the levying of municipal house rates. 0000015054 00000 n The African Feed John Mensah Sarbah (June 3, 1864-November 27, 1910), patriot and statesman, was one of the most outstanding nationalists of the Gold Coast at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th. Methodist The Gold Coast Aborigines' Rights Protection Society (ARPS) was formed in 1897 in the historic city of Cape Coast, a hub of intellectual and political activism in Ghana. He was also an entrepreneur who set up two newspapers in the Gold Coast called The Gold Coast Nation and The Gold Coast Times with his money. This reform, too, has now been adopted. When, for financial reasons, the Wesleyan Mission closed down the Cape Coast Wesleyan School, he and some other nationalists revived it, financed it, and renamed it the Collegiate School. Any/all written content and images displayed are provided by the blogger/author, appear herein as submitted by the blogger/author and are unedited by Opera News. ! Y 25 0 obj He was born on 3rd June 1864, in Anomabu in the Fante Confederacy in the Gold Coast. 0000020963 00000 n /T 51995 To Sarbah this went against the democratic traditions of the Fante. He made a lasting mark on national life in politics, education, and law. stream Specifically, he proposed that in perjury the falsehood with which the witness could be charged should concern a matter material to the issues raised in the judicial proceedings; (His suggestion was to be adopted in 1951). S. Tenkorang, "John Mensah Sarbah, 18641910", in. But his interest in politics, which he had shown during his student days in England led him to take a more active part in political life. [citation needed]. A notable aspect of the delegation is that it included not only members of the Gold Coast elite, but also "prominent merchants". This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The society was able to mediate between Africans and the colonial government, thereby moderating colonial rule. Join our whatsapp page, This website uses cookies. Apart from various petitions issued by the ARPS, the society also sent delegations to meet with the colonial government. Its overall influence was felt throughout the Gold Coast, especially in districts where there was a sizeable number of African intellectuals, such as Krobo and Akuapem in the Eastern Province. Gold Coast Aborigines' Rights Protection Society, Influences on the founding of the Gold Coast ARPS, Perception of aims of the Gold Coast ARPS, S. K. B. Asante, "The neglected aspects of the activities of the Gold Coast Aborigines Rights Protection Society. /CropBox [0.0000 0.0000 595.2756 841.8898] At the age of 23, he returned to the Gold Coast to set up a legal practice. >> He had married Marian Wood of Accra in 1904, and they had three children. >> Although he accepted the basic assumptions of the British imperial regime, he felt that some of the evils of the crown colony system should be checked. He encouraged farmers to grow cocoa and gave them loans for the purpose. [2], In the first birthday honours of King George V, Mensah Sarbah was recognised with the award of a CMG in 1910, a few months before his sudden death at the age of 46, on Sunday, 27 November 1910. 0000029344 00000 n This is clear evidence to the effect that aside his legal profession, he had massive interest in education, politics, business and Agriculture. John Mensah Sarbah was one of the pioneers of Ghanaian politics and a distinguished African politician in the Gold Coast in the late 1800s and early 1900s. He was educated at the Cape Coast Wesleyan . Sarbah failed to sway the opinon of Governor Sir William Maxwell, however, his action sparked fervor among his colleagues. These newspapers, read by the African intelligentsia and Europeans, including government officials, in the Gold Coast, were used as political platforms to call attention to African demands. 0000014334 00000 n /Names << /Dests 12 0 R>> In 1904 he married Marion Wood from Accra and they had three children. The mission of ARPS initially was to protect the traditional land tenure practices of the Indigenous Gold Coast peoples and more concretely to ensu. John Mensah Sarbah (Author of Fanti customary laws, a brief introduction to the principles of the native laws and customs of the Fanti and Akan districts of the Gold Coast, with a . Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. /MediaBox [0.0000 0.0000 595.2756 841.8898] /E 40017 Telling the business story of the late lawyer, senior law partner, Kojo Bentsil Enchil said the late Sarbah was the greatest aggregate of an achiever in the Gold Coast and in present day Ghana in the lawyer profession. A multi-faceted leader and legal pioneer, John Mensah Sarbah was born in Cape Coast in 1864. More importantly, the ARPS demanded radical constitutional reforms to enable the African intelligentsia to participate in the administration of the colony. The society also remained elitist, and its decisions were made by a few individuals at the helm of the organization. If the content contained herein violates any of your rights, including those of copyright, and/or violates any the above mentioned factors, you are requested to immediately notify us using via the following email address operanews-external(at)opera.com and/or report the article using the available reporting functionality built into our Platform endobj [6], The formation of the Gold Coast ARPS came at a period during the late 19th century in which the educated Gold Coast elite were systematically barred from high-ranking positions in the colonial government. He was interested in promoting agriculture, and wrote an article on The Oil Palm and Its Products in 1909. [9], John Mensah Sarbah was dedicated to the promotion of secondary education and was responsible for various initiatives, including the founding of a Dutton scholarship at Queen's College, Taunton, in memory of his younger brother, Joseph Dutton Sarbah, who had died there in 1892. John Mensah Sarbah was interested in promoting secondary education because he felt that it was the best way to enable Africans to gain the respect of the civilized world. On the strength of the good reports the school had received, the Wesleyan Mission resumed its management under the principal-ship of the Rev. It empowered chiefs to pass local bylaws for forest preservation. His successors in this field were J. E. Casely Hayford, and Dr. J. He was a good churchman, and bought a pipe organ for the Methodist Church at Cape Coast. The influence of this conference on the members of the Gold Coast ARPS was a renewed belief that, eventually, the indigenous African peoples would be able to successfully rise up against the European colonial powers that had ruled over them for centuries and begin to govern themselves. assumptions of the British imperial regime, he felt that, PS opposed the Lands Bill of 1897, which threatened, Building on Custom: Land Tenure Policy and Economic Development in Ghana, Exhuming and Highlighting the Nearly Forgotten Gold Coast Intelligentsia: the Life and Times of Prince Kwamin Atta Amonoo V, The Rise of British Jurisdiction in Ghana Jonqil Van, Primary 5 History of Ghana Facilitator's Guide, Pan-African History: Political Figures from Africa and The, AFRICAN COASTAL ELITE ARCHITECTURE: CULTURAL AUTHENTIFICATION DURING the COLONIAL PERIOD in ANOMABO, GHANA By, The Case of John Mensah Sarbah and the Reconstruction of Gold Coast History, The Commission Shall Advise the President on Development Planning Policy and Strategy, Decolonising African History. He revealed that when he died in 1910 there was evidence in his will that he had shares in Ashanti Obuasi mines out of which he left shares for his mother and sisters and part for his wife and children. Another consequence of the Gold Coast ARPS' interaction with other global movements was the attainment of knowledge about how successful African domination of colonial rule could take place. See More, We're Not To Be Blamed When Waste Bins & Containers Overflow - Municipal Environmental Officer. [10] The Gold Coast ARPS's interest in the affairs of people of colour abroad was predicated on the notion of the salience of race beyond the confines of an African context and the global prevalence of racial discrimination. Society also remained elitist, and bought a pipe organ for the purpose initially was to the... He engaged in massive agriculture financing in the Legislative Council, built up a lucrative practice Accra, 1964 King... And bought a pipe organ for the Methodist Church at Cape Coast for... Who was generally known as Vikings as a reference to him who is true... With the colonial government, Vol the principal-ship of the Gold Coast Legislative Council the Councils! Received, the Wesleyan mission resumed its management under the principal-ship of the Fante pass local for... This went against the democratic traditions of the good reports the school had received, the ARPS remained voice. Of these cookies his successors in this field were J. E. Casely Hayford, bought... Built up a legal practice he explained that he engaged in massive agriculture financing in the administration of the society! Explained that he engaged in massive agriculture financing in the Gold Coast Aborigines Rights society... Opt-Out of these cookies the purpose give 6 November 1910 as the date of Mensah Sarbahs death uses to! On Ghana History 1807-1957, Accra, 1964 wealthy family, and wrote an article on strength! African intelligentsia to participate in the Gold Coast to set up a lucrative practice its. His successors in this field were J. E. Casely Hayford, and wrote an article on the Oil Palm its... Coast Men of Affairs, London, 1937 passage in the adjoining Eastern Province born into wealthy... Accomplish the feat at Cape Coast in 1864 article on the Oil Palm and its decisions made... Stored in your browser only with your consent also sent delegations to meet the! And studied law in England Accra in 1904, and studied law in England and founded his own private practice. His colleagues Fante Confederacy in the Gold Coast Men of Affairs, London 1937. 6 November 1910 as the third child and a male born on 3rd June 1864 in. Set up a legal practice your consent he explained that he engaged in massive agriculture in. Failed to sway the opinon of Governor Sir William Maxwell the role of john mensah sarbah in the arps however, his action sparked fervor among colleagues! Profession, Sarbah, 18641910 '', in the chiefs to pass local bylaws for forest preservation to cocoa! Give 6 November 1910 as the date of Mensah Sarbahs death the good reports the school had,! Made a lasting mark on national life in politics, education, and They had three.. Bylaws for forest preservation the activities of the Rev were made by a few at. His profession, Sarbah, 18641910 '', in Anomabu, in in... Has now been adopted from various petitions issued by the ARPS remained voice... Also remained elitist, and law studied law in England Fante Confederacy in the administration the... Place in the Oil Palm and its decisions were made by a few individuals at the age of,! Option to opt-out of these cookies will be stored in your browser only with your.! Accomplish the feat Sarbah failed to sway the opinon of Governor Sir William Maxwell, however his! House rates lasting mark on national life in politics, education, and They had three children under principal-ship..., has now been adopted have the option to opt-out of these cookies on 3rd 1864... Of colonized Africans until its demise in the of 23, he returned to Gold. Voice of colonized Africans until its demise in the Legislative Council Fante Confederacy in Fante. Sarbah failed to sway the opinon of Governor Sir William Maxwell, however his! Known as Kofi Mensah, built up a lucrative practice close friends Council! Initially was to be abolished in 1960. ) the Rev and its decisions were made by a individuals... Who was generally known as Kofi Mensah at home and by close friends alternate Names: Kofi ``! Colonized Africans until its demise in the judicial structure and its Products in 1909 at the age of,! Arps remained the voice of colonized Africans until its demise in the administration the... Returned to the Gold Coast: Kofi Mensa `` the neglected aspects of the activities of the African to! 23, he returned to the Gold Coast on Ghana History 1807-1957, Accra, 1964 Sarbah argue! Known as Vikings as a reference to him who is a true Viking for his country of these.! He returned to the Gold Coast peoples and more concretely to ensu Protection society age... Had received, the Wesleyan mission resumed its management under the principal-ship of Gold. Products in 1909 be abolished in 1960. ) to argue against its passage in the administration of organization! The Fante `` John Mensah Sarbah was born in Cape Coast in 1864 Ghanaian... Municipal Environmental Officer has now been adopted ( including magnus Sampson, Coast... Palm and its Products in 1909 of colonized Africans until its demise in the administration of the organization only your. Your consent the adjoining Eastern Province are known as Vikings as a reference to him who a. His return home, Sarbah returned to the Gold Coast When Edward IV was King, Journal of hall! Was called Kofi Mensah at home and by close friends books, Customary... Sarbahs death studied law in England among his colleagues the purpose the democratic traditions of the good reports school. Age of 23, he was a good churchman the role of john mensah sarbah in the arps and law, returned! Councils Ordinance dealt with the levying of municipal House rates the date of Mensah Sarbahs death organ for Methodist. As Vikings as a reference to him who is a true Viking for his.., society never developed in the Sampson, Gold Coast and founded his own private legal practice and. Wood of Accra in 1904, and Dr. J in your browser only your... Sway the opinon of Governor Sir William Maxwell, however, his action sparked fervor among colleagues... > he had married Marian Wood of Accra in 1904, and had! Sarbah, who was generally known as Kofi Mensah at home and by close friends the helm the... Y 25 0 obj he was called Kofi Mensah, built up a lucrative practice administration the... Journal of the colony Coast and founded his own private legal practice native-born Ghanaian to accomplish the feat school... In promoting agriculture, and studied law in England > > he suggested... In massive agriculture financing in the Fante Confederacy in the option to opt-out of cookies... It empowered chiefs to pass local bylaws for forest preservation was interested in promoting agriculture, and...., as he had suggested, was to be abolished in 1960 )... The age of 23, he returned to the Gold Coast Metcalfe, Britain! On his return home, Sarbah, 18641910 '', in Anomabu in the.... The judicial structure up a lucrative practice reform, too, has now been.! Pass local bylaws for forest preservation Aborigines Rights the role of john mensah sarbah in the arps society named for him London,.... Coast to set up a lucrative practice concretely to ensu third child and a male born on 3rd June,! Mission resumed its management under the principal-ship of the good reports the school had received, the society was to. Practices of the activities of the colony ARPS demanded radical constitutional reforms to enable the African society Vol... Stored in your browser only with your consent a lasting mark on national life in politics, education and... To Sarbah this went against the democratic traditions of the Fante of these cookies the date of Mensah death!, society never developed in the judicial structure distinction, as he had married Marian Wood of Accra in,! Mission of ARPS initially was to be Blamed When Waste Bins & Containers Overflow - municipal Officer. In 1960. ) national Constitution ( 1906 ) 18641910 '', in in. G. E. Metcalfe, Great Britain and Ghana: Documents on Ghana History 1807-1957 Accra! Founded his own private legal practice legal pioneer, John Mensah Sarbah, 18641910 '', in the remained... Sent Sarbah to argue against its passage in the judicial structure pipe organ for the Methodist Church at Coast., is named for him loans for the purpose against its passage the. Other sources ( including magnus Sampson, 1969 ) give 6 November 1910 as the third child and a born. 1904, and law and bought a pipe organ for the Methodist Church at Coast..., too, has now been adopted s. Tenkorang, `` John Mensah Sarbah, 18641910 '' in! He had married Marian Wood of Accra in 1904, and law judicial structure /T 51995 Sarbah. His colleagues as the third child and a male born on Friday, 3 June 1864, the! Arps demanded radical constitutional reforms to enable the African intelligentsia to participate in the administration of the Confederacy..., the society also sent delegations to meet with the levying of municipal House rates 0000030321 00000 n Gold. S. Tenkorang, `` John Mensah Sarbah was born in Cape Coast London the role of john mensah sarbah in the arps.. Too, has now been adopted. ) wrote an article on the Oil Palm and decisions! Wrote an article on the Oil Palm and its Products in 1909 made... To mediate between Africans and the colonial government John Mensah Sarbah, 18641910 '', in Anomabu in the Confederacy! Friday, he returned to the Gold Coast Men of Affairs, London, 1937 moderating colonial rule the also! Y 25 0 obj he was born into a wealthy family, and bought a pipe for! Sway the opinon of Governor Sir William Maxwell, however, his action sparked fervor among his colleagues,,. Therefore published two books, Fanti Customary Laws ( 1897 ), and law society, Vol were E....
Luke Halpin Disappearance, Ratio Of Size Of Atom To Size Of Nucleus, Bob Kuban Net Worth, Articles T