§ 26. Mr. SORENSENasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies at what date the Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Province was informed that the Governor of the Gold Coast did not recognise Asamangkese's claim to he independent of the stool of Akim Abuakwa?
§ Mr. 0RMSBY-G0REThis claim was referred by agreement to arbitration and was rejected by the arbitrator in an award dated 9th September, 1929. I have no knowledge of any communication on the subject from the Governor of the Gold Coast to the Provincial Commissioner of the Eastern Province.
§ 27. Mr. SORENSENasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether he is aware that for some time past there has been a state of unrest in the chiefdom of Akim Abuakwa and its sub-divisions in the Eastern Province of the Gold Coast, that the stool of Asamangkese and the stool of Akwatia are sub-stools of the paramount stool of Akim Abuakwa and members of the council of that State, and that by orders, dated 12th August last, the Governor of the Gold Coast has deposed the Odikro Kwame Kuma and ordered him and four of his councillors to leave the Asamangkese division, to reside in another district, and not to return home; what is the reason for this deportation without trial, whether the 1241 orders were issued at the instance of or after consultation with the paramount chief of Akim Abuakwa and with the knowledge and approval of His Majesty's Government; and whether the question of the deportation of the mankrado of Asamangkese and of Mr. Anti-Dakwa, the Oman secretary to the joint stools of Asamangkese and Akwatia, has been considered by the Governor?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREYes, Sir. The Odikro was deposed by an order issued by the Governor on 4th August, and he and four councillors were ordered to leave the Asamangkese division by orders issued by the Governor on 12th August. The Governor acted under the powers conferred upon him by Sections 9 to 11 of the Asamangkese Division Regulation Ordinance of 1935, which enables him to depose and remove chiefs and others who appear to him to have obstructed the officers in charge of the Stool Treasuries in the exercise of their duties. The persons concerned were given five weeks in which to answer the charges, but failed to exculpate themselves to the Governor's satisfaction. The Governor acted on his own initiative and the approval of His Majesty's Government was riot required. I have no information with regard to the last part of the question.
§ Mr. SORENSENIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that considerable disturbance has been caused in the Gold Coast district owing to the deposition of the Odikro Kwame Kuma and his subsequent deportation? Further, is he aware that some of these men referred to have been sent far into the jungle, in a part of the country where they find it very difficult to live, and can he find some means to secure for them a more suitable area pending their return to their own country?
§ Mr. ORMSBY - GOREI cannot possibly commit myself to approving their return to their own part of the Gold Coast. They wilfully disobeyed the lawful instructions of the British Government and their paramount chief, and were guilty of causing grave trouble in the district. They appear to be undesirable individuals, and the Governor has insisted that they shall live far away from the district.
§ Mr. SORENSENIs it not a fact that a large number of natives in this part 1242 of Africa are very agitated and disturbed by this action and will the right hon. Gentleman permit me to state that these men are not necessarily of a character to be described as undesirable? Further in view of the generally unpleasant odour that has arisen from the Gold Coast will he not take steps to order an inquiry into the cause?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI know of no unpleasant odour. If we are to have what is called indirect rule—rule through chiefs and recognised institutions or stools as they are called on the Gold Coast—the proper management of them is a vital concern of the Government if we are to preserve authority. These persons have defied lawful native authority and are rebels against their paramount chief.