Accra is well dotted with signs in red, capital letters discouraging free-ranging practices through spot fines. I wonder however if this wouldn't be more effective?
Picture credit : Anon
Read of an interesting expedition today called the Kapersky Commonwealth Expedition - its a group of seven - originally eight - women from :
- Brunei
- Cyprus
- India
- Jamaica
- New Zealand
- Singapore and
- The United Kingdom
Promoted as 5 Continents, 6 Faiths, 7 Languages, 8 Women, 1 daring ambition the expedition will see this group of women making a 900km journey from the coast of Antarctica to the South Pole.
Unfortunately the person selected from Ghana, Barbara Yarney, will not be able to participate because of ill health. Such a pity isn't it? Was so excited when I saw both Ghana and Jamaica listed as participating.
For more on the team members and the expedition in general follow the link here. I fully intend to follow this remarkable adventure that is so cool (no pun intended!) on so many levels. Curious to see what will happen.
Picture credit : the Kapersky Commonwealth Expedition website
The Seychelles it seems was somewhat of a smaller version of Australia for the British. There were several political prisoners that were sent here for varying ' crimes' against the empire. Apart from King Prempeh I, political prisoners came from other countries including: - Uganda
- Maldives
- Zanzibar
- Cyprus
- Palestine
- Malawi
- Zanzibar
- Somalia and
- Egypt
King Prempeh however was exiled for the longest - having spent twenty four years on Mahe. His - and others - imprisonment was seen a a way of destroying the very base of traditional political systems. Like others, during his exile, King Prempeh was forced to convert to Christianity and choose Christian names. King Prempeh thus 'converted' an Anglican and chose the Christian name Edward - after King Edward of England (of course!). To complete the transformation he had to also give up traditional cloth, wear suits and learned to write and speak English.
As one historian noted however ' in 1924 when Prempeh returned to Kumasi, and contrary to British expectation that his exile had weakened the kingdom and would make him the embodiment of a British ruler, his people, the Asantes, who had waited for twenty four years and rejected British appointed Kings and chiefs in the interim, restored him as an Asantehene or King of the Asantes'.
Found this interesting extract at the National History Museum and thought I should share. Its an overview of the wages for the Ashanti Political prisoners as copied from an extract (original source unknown, spellings of names kept as seen in document).| Names | Ranks | Rate per day | Total |
|---|
| Edward Prempeh | Ex-King of Ashanti |
Rs 7.50 | Rs. 244.12 |
| George Assibi | Ex-King of Kakafu | Rs 2.25 | Rs 73.24 |
| Kojo Apia | Ex-King of Kumassi | Rs 1.27 | Rs 60.87 |
| Asafu Beashen | Ex-King of Kumassi | Rs 1.87 | Rs 60.87 |
| Beatin |
Ex-King of Kumassi | Rs 1.87 | Rs 60.87 |
| Ya Assantiwa | Queen Mother | Rs 3.37 | Rs 109.69 |
| Kofi Kofia | Ex-King of Berumfu | Rs 1.87 | Rs 60.87 |
| Kobina Kwantabissah | Ex-King of Oduman | Rs 1.87 | Rs 60.37 |
| Kwami Chausa | Ex-King of Berumfui | Rs 1.87 |
Rs 60.37 |
| Edu Kofi | Ex-King of Berumfu | Rs 1.87 | Rs 60.87 |
| Kwami Akrema | Ex-King of Talkerii |
Rs 1.87 | Rs 60.37
|
Sources
Picture: Ghana Web Encyclopedia of the African Disapora: Origins, Experiences and Culture
edited by Carole Boyce Davis
Most Ghanaian do know the history of King Prempeh and his exile to the Seychelles so coming to the islands with a group of Ghanaians certainly meant that we were going to follow the trail. Better still we had in our midst two Ashantis and direct orders from the Seychelles consulate - a member of our Rotary Club - to do some fact finding. And fact finding we did!
We had to do a bit of leg work - literally! but luckily with a total population of only eighty five thousand, and the smallest geographical capital in the world, it wasn't as bad as we feared. We started asking almost as soon as we were off the plane, and grilled the hotel staff at breakfast the next morning. Venturing into town to see the sights we soon found other links, and finally a telephone number and address. We actually spent the day on Tuesday with his grand-daughter, Terraine, one of the two remaining grand-children living here in the Seychelles.
Coincidentally, we visited her almost some sixteen or so years after the visit of the then President Rawlings.
Sadly, she had never been to Ghana - despite promises from so many others that had visited before. Is seldom in touch with the relatives who went back with King Prempeh, and while she did seem proud that she was descended from royalty, seemed to be unable to connect it back to the excitement the group displayed. Over the next couple of days will try and share some of what I have learnt - and am hoping that the video I did is in 'postable' condition. Will also tell you about King Prempeh's house, and the grave of Yaa Ansantewa.
