HC Deb 14 May 1953 vol 515 cc88-9W
Mr. Tilney

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he has any statement to make about the recent riot at Elmina in the Gold Coast.

Mr. Hopkinson

For some months there have been disputes in the Edina/ Eguafo Local Council area over the level of rates imposed by the local council which was elected last year. On the night of 8th May a large number of people collected to resist execution by the local council police of warrants issued by the native court for the arrest of certain persons who had failed to answer summonses of the court concerning non-payment of rates. Gold Coast Colony police were summoned from Elmina and were compelled to use tear smoke to disperse the crowd.

At about 7.15 a.m. on 9th May a crowd from nearby villages, estimated at about 2,000, approached Elmina Castle where the Colony police reserve is quartered. The Superintendent of Police, Major Edgar Brookes, sent a police sergeant-major to tell the crowd to disperse. As the order was ignored, Superintendent Brookes, with two constables unarmed like himself, approached the crowd and ordered it to disperse. While he was speaking he and one of the constables were shot and killed.

The crowd seemed intent on proceeding to Elmina either to intimidate the local council or to regain a drum which the local council police had seized the previous night. Some of the crowd which had reached the town of Elmina threatened the council with firearms. Police reinforcements soon arrived from the Castle, some with firearms, and dispersed the crowd. Four other policemen were injured, one dangerously, and 18 fatal casualties have been reported amongst the rioters.

A curfew has been enforced in the area, further police have been moved in and the situation is now reported quiet. Local chiefs and the local Member of the Legislative Assembly are actively co-operating with the authorities in maintaining calm. A number of persons have been detained of whom 33 have so far been identified as having taken part in the disturbances. On 13th May the Gold Coast Prime Minister made a broadcast condemning in the strongest terms this resort to violence.

I should like to express the deep sympathy of my right hon. Friend and myself with the relatives of Superintendent Brookes and of the dead constable, Akurugu Frafra.