University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh UNIVERSITY OF GHANA ECONOMIC ENTERPRISES OF THE BASEL MISSION SOCIETY IN THE GOLD COAST: A STUDY OF THE BASEL MISSION TRADING COMPANY FROM 1859 TO 1917 JULIET OPPONG-BOATENG (10396805) THIS THESIS IS SUBMITTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF GHANA, LEGON IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF THE M.PHIL DEGREE IN AFRICAN STUDIES JULY, 2014 University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DECLARATION I declare that I have personally undertaken this study under supervision and it is my independent and original work. This thesis has not been submitted in any form to any other institution for the award of another degree. Where other sources of information have been cited, they have been duly acknowledged. Student JULIET OPPONG-BOATENG (10396805) ……………………………………… …………………………………… Signature Date Supervisors PROF. IRENE K. ODOTEI ……………………………………… …………………………………… Signature Date DR. EBENEZER AYESU ……………………………………… …………………………………… Signature Date i University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ABSTRACT During the ninety years of operation on the Gold Coast (1828-1918), the Basel missionaries did not limit themselves to their primary task of evangelism. As part of the efforts to achieve their aim of total social transformation of converts, the missionaries promoted the establishment of schools, linguistic studies, agricultural experimentation and other economic ventures. A trading post which evolved into the Basel Mission Trading Company (BMTC) was established at Christiansborg in 1859 to take charge of all their economic ventures. This study documents the attempt by the Basel Mission Trading Company to transmit the Mission’s work ethic and practices to its converts through its operations. Financial difficulties constrained the Basel Mission Society (BMS) to become self-supporting; and the Basel Mission Trading Company’s profits provided support for its educational and other missionary activities. Drawing on available archival and secondary materials with supplementary sources from oral data on the activities of the Basel Mission Society in the Gold Coast, this study examines the Basel Mission Trading Company as an economic institution and the interplay between Christianity and commerce in the quest for moral and material regeneration of the African society. ii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh DEDICATION I dedicate this work to my grandmother Mrs. Rose Obeng; my parents Mr. Alex Oppong- Boateng and Mrs. Comfort Oppong-Boateng; and my siblings Elizabeth Asomaning, Angela Oppong-Boateng and Ebenezer Nana Yaw Anim Oppong-Boateng. iii University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh ACKNOWLEDGEMENT My first heartfelt gratitude goes to the Almighty God whose divine grace and mercy has made this study a reality. I cannot forget my supervisors, Prof. Irene K. Odotei and Dr. Ebenezer Ayesu, whose practical directions, instructions and criticisms helped in bringing this work to a successful end. I say a big thank you to them and may the good Lord replace everything that they have lost in the course of supervision. My sincerest gratitude goes to Prof. Robert Addo-Fening for taking time to read through this work and his genuine criticisms that enabled me to produce this work. My special appreciation goes to Prof. Irene K. Odotei, Dr. Wilhelmina J. Donkoh and Dr. Vincent Dodoo for their encouragement to undertake graduate studies. I also want to thank all the people who out of their busy schedule still found time to provide me with the necessary information for the study. They are Mrs. Rose Obeng; Madame Margaret Adibi, Esther Mensah and Sitsoƒe Adjandeh; Obaapanin Anima Obriem, Mr. James Quartey and Opanin Oduro Kwarteng. I also want to deeply appreciate my friends and colleagues who in one way or the other contributed to the production of this work. They include Evelyn Aku Adjandeh, Kafui Tekpo, Richard Awubomu, Emmanuel Nii Bortey, Richmond Brako-Abeyie, Charles Boadu, Junias Adusei-Gyamfi and Anthony Osabutey. Finally I want to thank my parents Mr. Alex Oppong-Boateng and Mrs. Comfort Oppong-Boateng for all the love, support and encouragement they offered me in the course of the study. God richly bless you all. iv University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh TABLE OF CONTENTS DECLARATION................................................................................................................ I ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... II DEDICATION................................................................................................................. III ACKNOWLEDGEMENT .............................................................................................. IV TABLE OF CONTENTS ................................................................................................ V LIST OF PICTURES ................................................................................................... VIII LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................ IX CHAPTER ONE ............................................................................................................... 2 INTRODUCTION............................................................................................................. 2 1.1 BACKGROUND TO STUDY .................................................................................... 2 1.2 PROBLEM STATEMENT ........................................................................................ 7 1.3 OBJECTIVES OF STUDY ........................................................................................ 8 1.4 SIGNIFICANCE OF STUDY .................................................................................... 9 1.5 SCOPE OF STUDY .................................................................................................. 10 1.6 THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK .......................................................................... 10 1.7 REVIEW OF SELECTED LITERATURE............................................................ 11 1.8 METHODOLOGY ................................................................................................... 18 1.9 ORGANISATION OF STUDY ................................................................................ 20 CHAPTER TWO ............................................................................................................ 22 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND TO BMS ACTIVITIES IN THE GOLD COAST 22 2.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 22 2.2 THE BEGINNINGS IN EUROPE .......................................................................... 22 2.3 THE BASEL MISSION SOCIETY ......................................................................... 24 2.3.1 THE MISSIONS INSTITUT ...................................................................................... 25 2.3.2 THE BEGINNINGS OF INDEPENDENT MISSIONARY WORK .................................. 27 2.4 BACKGROUND TO MISSIONARY WORK IN THE GOLD COAST ............. 28 2.5 AFRICAN TRADITIONAL RELIGION ON THE EVE OF CHRISTIAN MISSION ADVENT ....................................................................................................... 32 v University of Ghana http://ugspace.ug.edu.gh 2.5.1 CONCEPT OF GOD THROUGH ORAL TRADITIONS ............................................... 32 2.5.2 CONCEPT OF GOD THROUGH NON-ORAL SOURCES ........................................... 33 2.6 THE BASEL MISSION SOCIETY ON THE GOLD COAST ............................. 35 2.6.1 IMPACT OF THE BMS ON THE GOLD COAST ....................................................... 40 2.6.1.1 Social and Educational................................................................................. 40 2.6.1.2 Agricultural and Economic Development ................................................... 42 2.6.2 THE TAKE-OVER BY THE SCOTTISH MISSIONARIES ........................................... 45 2.7 CONCLUSION ......................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER THREE ........................................................................................................ 48 THE ORGANISATION OF THE BMTC ON THE GOLD COAST ........................ 48 3.1 INTRODUCTION..................................................................................................... 48 3.2 THE RATIONALE FOR ESTABLISHING THE BMTC .................................... 48 3.2.1 INADEQUATE FUNDS ............................................................................................ 48 3.2.2 DELAY IN ACQUISITION OF THE NEEDED COMMODITIES .................................. 50 3.2.3 HIGH COST OF COMMODITIES AND TRANSPORTATION ..................................... 51 3.2.4 DEVELOPED TASTE FOR EUROPEAN GOODS BY AFRICANS ................................ 52 3.3 OPPOSITION TO MISSION TRADING ACTIVITIES ...................................... 53 3.4 THE BEGINNINGS OF BMTC .............................................................................. 54 3.5 THE STRUCTURE OF BMTC ............................................................................... 56 3.6 THE VISION OF THE BMTC ................................................................................ 56 3.7 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE BMTC ..................................................................... 57 3.8 ETHIC THAT GUIDED THE OPERATIONS OF THE BMTC .......................