Previous page | New search |
The free AfricaBib App for Android is available here
Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | The municipal system and local administration at Cape Coast: 1858-1957 |
Author: | Quarcoopome, Samuel S. |
Year: | 2002 |
Periodical: | Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana (ISSN 0855-3246) |
Issue: | 6 |
Pages: | 83-98 |
Language: | English |
Notes: | biblio. refs. |
Geographic terms: | Ghana West Africa |
Subjects: | municipal government colonialism History and Exploration Politics and Government Urbanization and Migration History, Archaeology local government history Cape Coast (Ghana) |
External link: | https://www.jstor.org/stable/41406670 |
Abstract: | In 1858, convinced that the traditional institutions were unable to administer Cape Coast (Ghana), evidenced amongst others in their inability to assume responsibility for hygiene and sanitation, the British introduced the concept of municipal administration. However, they never succeeded in setting up an effective municipal system of government at Cape Coast. British failure hinged on three main issues. No serious attempt was made to actively involve the traditional authorities. Secondly, throughout the period under study (1906-1957), the Cape Coast Town Council had serious financial difficulties, and its weak revenue base was never seriously addressed. Thirdly, there was a sharp division between the Council's nominated official members and the unofficial African members. The official members paid no rates yet their de facto majority meant that it was they who determined the rates and how they were to be collected and used. This remained a sore point with the elected African members. Notes, ref. [ASC Leiden abstract] |