Towards an Understanding of Local African Abolitionism: George Ekem Ferguson, an Unexplored Abolitionist in 19th Century Ghana

The research problem discussed in this article centers on the historical role of George Ekem Ferguson, a 19th-century Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana) figure, in the abolition of slavery. Despite Ferguson’s significant contributions as a colonial civil servant, cartographer, surveyor, and other roles, his potential involvement in anti-slavery efforts has been largely ignored in academic literature. Meanwhile, there is a local perception of him as an abolitionist in modern Ghana. This paper aims to reassess Ferguson’s legacy and specifically examine his reported anti-slavery activities. The study utilizes Ferguson’s colonial reports and community reflections to explore his advocacy against slavery in the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast, challenging the traditional narrative that predominantly highlights European contributions to abolition efforts in the region. The research utilizes archival records from The National Archives in London, including George Ekem Ferguson’s colonial reports, and field interviews with Ferguson’s family in Anomabo and residents of Wa, where he died and was buried in Ghana. These sources provide insights into Ferguson’s anti-slavery activities and local perceptions of him as an abolitionist.Part 1 outlines George Ekem Ferguson’s origins, education, and career within the colonial administration of Ghana. Born in Anomabu to a family involved in the colonial establishment and the church mission, Ferguson was educated in Sierra Leone and the United Kingdom, becoming a skilled cartographer and civil servant. Ferguson’s role in the Gold Coast was multifaceted; he was a teacher, a clerk, and eventually a political agent involved in treaty negotiations. Ferguson’s views diverged from those of other educated Fante contemporaries such as Casely-Hayford, who were influenced by James Hutton Brew’s advocacy of a greater African voice in colonial governance. Ferguson is presented as a proponent of expanding colonial rule for civilization purposes, in contrast to the Fante nationalist aspirations of his peers. The part provides essential background on Ferguson’s life, establishing his position and networks. It sets the stage for examining Ferguson’s reported activities in the northern hinterlands.Part 2 of the paper delves into George Ekem Ferguson’s diplomatic efforts in the Northern Territories and his engagement with local leaders, which may have led to his reputation as an abolitionist. While treaties of protection included anti-slavery clauses, treaties of friendship did not, focusing instead on preventing alliances with other European powers. Ferguson’s writings highlight the Asante tributary system’s contribution to regional slave sourcing and how British intervention reduced such practices. He emphasized the importance of the British defeat of the Asante, which led to a reduction in slave raiding and encouraged the replacement of the slave trade with legitimate trade to further curb slavery. Despite the lack of explicit anti-slavery provisions in many treaties, Ferguson implied to local rulers that treaties with Britain would provide protection against slave raiding. His efforts to prevent slave raids and to promote trade as an alternative to slavery contributed to his reputation as an abolitionist among local communities.Part 3 argues that community memory in Anomabo and Wa intersects with the historical record to portray Ferguson as an initiator of anti-slavery measures beyond his official colonial duties. His relatives in Anomabo maintain that Ferguson’s opposition to slavery was a personal initiative, not a colonial directive, thus affirming his status as an abolitionist. In Wa, where Ferguson is buried, the local community honors his memory as someone who defended their interests against slave raiders, with his grave site reflecting traditional customs for honoring respected strangers. The community’s view of Ferguson as an abolitionist is linked to his personal interventions against slave raiding and his efforts to establish boundaries that helped protect against slavers, reinforcing the narrative of Ferguson as a pivotal figure in the fight against slavery in Northern Ghana.The conclusion of the article presents George Ekem Ferguson as a pivotal figure who possibly contributed to the fight against slave raiding in Northern Ghana. It also outlines opportunities for future research to confirm the impact of Ferguson’s treaties on the reduction of slave raiding and to explore the perspectives of local African rulers and slave raiders of that era.