University of Cape Coast

UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST THE ORIGINS, IMPLEMENTATION AND EFFECTS OF GHANA’S 1969 ALIENS COMPLIANCE ORDER BY ADJEI ADJEPONG THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY, FACULTY OF ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF CAPE COAST IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR AWARD OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY (M.PHIL) IN HISTORY MAY 2009 DECLARATION Candidate’s Declaration I hereby declare that this thesis is the result of my own original work and that no part of it has been presented for another degree in this university or elsewhere. Candidate’s Signature: …………………………… Date: …………………… Name: ……………………………………………………………………………… Supervisors’ Declaration We hereby declare that the preparation and presentation of the thesis were supervised in accordance with the guidelines on supervision of thesis laid down by the University of Cape Coast. Principal Supervisor’s Signature: ………………………… Date: …………..... Name: ……………………………………………………………………………… Co – Supervisor’s Signature: ………………………… Date: ……………. Name: ……………………………………………………………………………… ii ABSTRACT This study situates the November 18, 1969 Aliens Compliance Order in a historical perspective and, with the employment of the internal-external approach, examines the context in which the expulsion order was enforced. Relying on both primary and secondary sources, the study reveals that various factors combined to make Ghana one of the preferred migrants’ destinations in West Africa, especially from the beginning of the nineteenth century to the 1960s. In the face of the growing immigrant population, the colonial, Nkrumah and NLC administrations all introduced immigration measures to control the influx of immigrants into Ghana. However, the colonial government and Nkrumah administration did not strictly enforce those regulations. The NLC attempted to remedy the situation, but it could not achieve much. When the Busia government was inaugurated, it immediately issued the expulsion order which caused the deportation of many immigrants in a manner never before attempted. The study demonstrates how the interplay of factors, such as the government’s desire to reduce the rate of unemployment and remittances from Ghana, combat crime, guarantee the security of the country, compel immigrants to comply with the immigration laws of Ghana, control the growth of the country’s population, ensure cultural homogeneity, clear the streets of immigrant destitutes and beggars, continue the policies of the NLC, and xenophobia on the part of some Ghanaians, at least to some extent, influenced the government’s decision to issue the expulsion order. iii The study observes that the decision was strictly enforced. Some of the immigrants who made efforts to secure permits were successful, but many were those who failed and, thus, had to leave Ghana, sometimes hastily. The study again shows that in some cases, the police and some ordinary citizens went to the extreme so that many of the expellees suffered in many ways, including loss of property and even death. The work indicates the economic, social and political repercussions of the expulsion on Ghana and the country’s foreign relations. In the end, the government did not fully realise the objectives for which it issued the Order, but some modest gains were made. The study finally appreciates the good intentions of the government in acting in the interest of Ghana, as was alleged, but frowns on the harsh manner in which the implementation was done. The study contends that if the government had been more cautious in executing the decision, it could have realised its objectives. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENT No one can succeed in acknowledging all of his intellectual indebtedness, largely because it is usually impossible to draw up an accurate account. Since the success of the undertaking of any intellectual exercise requires both collective and critical collaboration, I relied on many people who contributed in diverse ways towards the success of this study. I cannot acknowledge all of them here. There are, however, some people whose contributions were so glaring that this work can never be complete without a mention of their names here and a show of appreciation to them. I want to express my great indebtedness to all Professors, Senior Lecturers, Lecturers, and Senior Research Assistants of the Department of History, University of Cape Coast, whose co-operation, useful ideas and important suggestions made my research exercise gratifying. I would like to express my appreciation particularly to Dr. S.Y. Boadi-Siaw and Dr. K. Adu Boahen, both of the Department of History, whose advice and timely and excellent supervision contributed greatly to the success of the study. I also express my heartfelt appreciation to the administrative staff of the Department of History, University of Cape Coast, for their assistance and co-operation. I further wish to express my deep appreciation to Mr. Charles Okyere Yeboah, my guardian and father, and his wife, Madam Juliet Osafo Kwao (Maame Benewaa) for their moral and financial support, without which I might v have been deprived of university education. Mr. Yeboah, MAY GOD BLESS YOU! I am grateful to my mother, Maame Bowaah, for the numerous difficulties she had to suffer for me to get education. No amount of words can ever be enough to express exactly the nature of appreciation I want to show to her. My appreciation also goes to my siblings, Abena, Kwasi, Akua, Adwoa, and Kwaku, and all my friends and cousins. To them, I say a very big “Thank you” for your encouragement. To my father-in-law, Mr. Robert Osei Owusu; my mother-in-law, Madam Rose Appiah (Madam Afua Pokuaa); and my brothers- and sisters-in-law, especially Mr. Ross Osei Owusu and Sister Abena Nyamekye, another big “Thank you”. I appreciate the patience you showed me when things made me appear to drag my feet. I also want to express my huge indebtedness to my wife without whose constant support and encouragement I could not have brought this work to a successful completion. A special note of appreciation goes to her for the time she spent and the patience she had to edit the final work. In carrying out the field work, I relied on various people for data and others who introduced me to some people who assisted me in diverse ways. In this regard, I wish to put on record my sincere appreciation for the help given me by all informants, particularly Mr. Solomon Osei-Akoto, Akoasi, Nana Antobre Prempeh, Santasi, Kumasi, Mr. Kwasi Apah and Mr. Kwadwo Antwi, Nkwatia- Kwahu, and my landlord and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. Mensah, Pedu, Cape Coast. vi Since no worthy work of this nature can be undertaken without a library, I wish to thank the staff of University of Cape Coast Library, Cape Coast; Parliament Library, Accra; Department of History Library, University of Cape Coast; Faculty of Law Library, University of Ghana, Legon, Accra; Graphic Communications Library, Accra; George Padmore’s Library for Research, Accra; Martin Luther King Junior’s Library, Accra; Eastern Regional Library, Koforidua; Central Regional Library, Cape Coast; Greater Accra Regional Library, Accra; and all other places of research I consulted. Finally, I wish to emphasise that I carry the responsibility for any errors detected in the thesis. I also welcome comments and/or criticisms meant to generate further investigation as part of the learning process. vii DEDICATION This work is dedicated with renewed, but unrevised, love to my sweet wife, MRS. CONSTANCE ADJEI ADJEPONG. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page Declaration ii Abstract iii Acknowledgement v Dedication viii List of Tables xii Acronyms and Abbreviations xiii Definition of Terms xv INTRODUCTION 1 Background of the Study 1 Statement of the Problem 7 Literature Review 9 Purpose of the Study 19 Methodology 21 Significance of the Study 25 Limitations of the Study 27 Organisation of the Study 29 CHAPTER ONE: CAUSES OF MIGRATION INTO GHANA 34 ix CHAPTER TWO: DEALING WITH IMMIGRANTS BEFORE THE 1969 EXPULSION ORDER 70 The Colonial Administration and Immigration Control 71 Nkrumah and Immigration Control 75 The NLC and Immigration Regulation 79 CHAPTER THREE: GET IT OR LEAVE: THE EXPULSION ORDER OF 1969 90 The Aliens Compliance Order 91 Reasons for Issuing the Expulsion Order 92 External Dimension 93 Domestic Dimension 114 CHAPTER FOUR: GO BACK HOME: THE EXPULSION ORDER IN OPERATION 130 The Search for Permits 131 Economic Policies 139 Social Policies 151 Political Measures 155 The Police and the Enforcement of the Order 160 The Unneighbourly Attitude of Some Ghanaians 165 Exemptions from Expulsion 168 Exemptions Abrogated 171 x Immigrants Departing 173 Criticisms from Abroad and Within 178 Government Warnings 180 Government Assistance 181 Execution Relaxed 182 Acheampong and Akuffo Continue Implementation 183 CHAPTER FIVE: EFFECTS OF THE EXPULSION ORDER 206 Economic Effects 206 Social Consequences 220 Political Effects 235 The National versus International: Effects on Ghana’s Foreign Relations 239 CONCLUSION 258 BIBLIOGRAPHY 265 APPENDICES 292 xi LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Comparison of Age Distribution of Ghana-Origin Population and All Ghana (Both Sexes - %), 1960 96 Table 2: Distribution of Foreign-Origin and Ghana-Origin Population by Type of Occupation. (%), (1960) 97 Table 3: Proportion of Immigrants Aged 15 and Above Falling Within the Total Labour Force by Type of Industry, (1960) 99 Table 4: Industrial Distribution of Employed Immigrants and Ghanaians Aged 15 and Above by Sex, (1960) 101 Table 5.1: Proportion of Immigrant Workers Aged 15 Years and Above Within Various Craftsmen Occupational Groups, (1960)

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