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10/26/1950 - Profile of a Politician by Edwin S. Munger

INSTITUTE OF CURRENT WORLD AFFAIRS ESM U S Consulate Profile Politician Acora Gold Coast West Africa October Mr Walter S Roers Institute Current World Affairs Fifth Avenue New York New York Dear Mr Roers Chief Nii Kwabena Bonne III center attraction fawnin waiters curious iners smart London supper where party honor friend Harold Cooper Public Relations Officer Nigeria The staff maitre busboys fascinated object Nii Bonne right Mounted enormous irregular chunk With recovered aplomb witers avidly plied party msner nectar ambrosia Sensin sucker showed bottle their expensive champagne carelessly approval almost blatantly substituted lesser vintase called Nothinstoo guests avaricious waiter expensive suggestions Even normally abnormal arithmetic night addition check absurdly padded Playin potentate Nii Bonne glanced casually figure nodded passed companion settle As party anlon colonel Indian Army stayed behind quicJ disabused management profits olden addition Nil Bonne wealthy On visit England interviewin reporters heard spectacles under health scheme The Conservative press fleld about African chief comino Britain glasses The truth stomach trouble twenty years Eniand second operation Harley Street speciallsts His hoped secure Such behavior penchant native dress Nil Bonne fairly Mnown London His polltical Busiess acivities entree Whitehall Throorton Sreet In Gold Coast lrmnah Coussey Danquah household Aocra I found necessary telephone numbers By askln exchange Nil Bonne through dispatch No questions spark successful boycott against living In launched newspaper political which folded second joined hands The story Nil Bonne could oalled African Alger Rapacious Roue His title front autobiographical script front proclaims A ilestone History Gold Coast So begin version Although followin obviously reatly condensed words punctuation I ornin Saturday Jnuary 0range House Horse Road Ussher Town Aocra opposite Pos Telegraphs Offices place occupied Stavely Company My father Theodore illiamson Taylor native Kissy Sierra Leone paternal grandmother daughter Kin Tucker Sherbro Islands My father Gold Coast Customs Officer later trans ferred Government House Christianbourg Chief Clerk Durin interested himself photography Riding horse evening High Street father o611ied Chief Justice Colony His Honour unfortu nately kicked horse which resulted woundin The Police instituted criminal proceedings aainst father found guilty discharged There street lights consequence Chief Justice ordered streets should public ights On attainin eighth birth I called Kwamina Taylor started training Basel Missionary Children School called vernacular Kpenkplen Tu Jump Rabbit Amanfon Christianbourg Castle That school stable His Excellency Governor Whilst Part which those A B D class vernacular tutor Teacher Enman I severely floed absent school without leave When reported mother whole household rushed school assaulted teacher result I dismissed school I returned Osu Aecra about twelve became Mr Schuzie Assistant Principal Basel Boarding School I standard three Mr Schuzie Europe I became Teacher Judas Each after school I Labadi Mr Judas On occasion rained heavily retmrn Labadi about After master taken dinner I enjoyed tired I drenched I without studyin evening When detected master about administered severe thrashing consequence which I bolted night mother house reported matter thereby excitin family speed house master retaliate lashin I discontinue attending school being second assault inmates mother house teachers After mother death I refused Aburi Mr Ribeiro pantry He great inerest It intention EnEland relatives would allow departure I stayed riffith I maltreated followin reason I unceremonio travelled alone until I reached Axim where I employed steward Mr Patrick District Commissioner I worked This gentleman proposed England which other infused I would treated slave I I would One I Aoora Barkoshi trader beads principal Mr Otto Jaokel order beads Germany would He enaed interpreter A month after Bubonic plaue broke would Germany refused Some I heard German contractor lookin keeper I there applied enaed Several years Mr Pantie enquired whether I could undertake contract build factory company Swedru He rough desired requested prepare submit follow which I estimate I materials workmanship It stipulated contract I completed buildin within months I receive special bonus I unhesitatingly undertook sarted operations employin masons carpenters laborers As I eager complete Job within specified contract I bought dozen lanterns compelled workmen carry I0 before closing For reason I nicknamed Abejan Contractor By Force Contractor The whole completed three months I handed realized profit In I proceed Anum repair house As distance there lorries which travel I purchase motorcycle I could Kpon farther there being motor after I obliged secure hammock engage eight carriers In I returned Aoora joined Messrs Miller Brothers Cocoa Broker I abandoned office following worked private cocoa buyer Koforidua first shipment cocoa Europe about middle I proceeded Europe effeo business arrangements I nKland followin breaking passage Freetown Sierra Leone where I spent fortuht relatives The I revisited England discovered directors misappropriated funds company which compelled institute action court aainst recovery funds The however oompromised I established another company Tooland Produce Company Sometime again travelled England forming company W Taylor Sons I leased whole Maieon A venue Coleman street London consistin three floors Co Irector Mr Keogh General Manager Farrow Bank Captain Foothe placed charge business I proceeded France there Venice Italy beads business Thence I proceeded Berne capital Switzerland Mlan Torino Rom Obersharer northwest Germany BSM9 Berlin Leipzig I opened stores Freetown appointed Mr Mends Monrovia Liberia opened It I0 My credit Bank West Africa Sierra Leone documentary credit I00 Soon after I received cablegram London informin agent Liberia cabled charter proceed Liberia stock kernels piassava I proceed Monrovia agent failed At Bank followin I discovered produce stock credit Of I0 withdrawn I thereupon hastened chase agent giventoundersTudthathehadlei bycanoethepreviousight destint unknown I proceeded Freetown where I gathered information agent travelled England I embarked London reported matter Scotland Yard He shortly arrested sentenced months imprison money involved never recovered In returned England Chief Oluwa White Cap Chief Laos pursuing appeal Privy Council On success Chief Oluwa appeal I dinner honour Savoy Hotel London guests editors Times Daily Graphic An invitation extended Their Majesties Kin Queen royal yacht Victoria Albert short before dinner I honour receive telegram reply King Private Secretary I directe His Majesty Kin acknowledge receipt invitation rester inform inconsistent His Majesty attend private function Let remember I married Miss Gill Registry London sometime there being issue marriage Sometime May while I West Africa K F Tandoh after satisfying myself certain enquiries I substantiate allega separation effected I household furniture ether amount I00 since I never Again I proceeded Germany where I secured large agency glassware leather I appointed supplied goods value For period remittances principals requested return West Africa order collect nothin wascollectedonmyarrival Afterreportinomyprincipalsthepositionin sofarasmymissionwascon cerned IhadtoreurntoGermanyoeonfiry report One mornin withdraw money I surprised informed arneshie executed I consulted Dr Howard Solicitor Messrs Woermen Cmpany Hamburg iaedlately instituted proceedin court aainst This draed months oulminatin appearance before presided seven Judges where rulin favour effect defendants could equivalent amount covered surety namely sterlln right sleze thing above amount Returnin London Germany I suddenly telephone Lady Guggisberg inviting Lt Col Levy herself Savoy Hotel At Savoy Lady Gugisber threw suggestion I should assist Gold Coast overnment forthoomin Wembley Exhibitons Later I fortunate selected accomp Their Majesties King Queen visited Exhibition I invitation Palace Kin6 would With Lt Col Levy I taken foreign ambassadors ESM cloak where I overcoat Breakfast served beautiful charmin dining I other apartments artistically deoorated bounteous ornaments Wth consent directors includin Nana Sir Ofori Atta I decided I should exhibit African produce Italy In consultation Italian government Trieste selected The estimated between three thousand pounds I proceeded Italy opened Governor Trieste presence Mussolini secretary British French American German Ambassadors Average attendance I0 daily weeks In Dakar I Hotel Continental lunch After waiting table prepared stewards understand Europeans entertained there reason I could served because I coloured enquiries Nanager pretended understand En I exasperated hungry I nearly entered blows before ordered served A after I Barber African I unattended I quietly walked found another small barber I resumed business Cromer Road Acora At I African havin establishment importing average barrels Port Cement monthly In I proceeded England Paris booked rooms Hotel Meurioe where I disposal Rolls Royce guineas whloh I visited Versailles In I dream great vision foretellin there going great famine country There great meeting Which I called narrate gathering dream vision after having Ga Nanche other Nanchemei agreed support mission In August I Temma asked small Chile shillin chickens pence kenkey penny I addressed farmers I continued address message beach reportn fishermen arrived their canoes overloaded Chile This enthused atherim believed dream I encouraged press glorious mission entrusted Nungua place Labadi I addressed residents A couple hours after return messengers fisherman called house inform heard prayers their heavy catches fishermen They offered Chiles appreciation efforts At other villages I orares three pence price reduced three okpolu shillin three pence At Cape Coast police support Colonel Bamford Accra At these stations success attended endeavours bring costs The Ga Manche presided public meetin Rev Bruce Methodist Mission appointed chairman enquire accounts I incurred The Committee instructed I00 pounds addition pounds state visited I thanked committee declined accept penny offered reason I I appointed God render servioe oountrymen order starvationj there reward servioe I reoeive God himself Soon after I entered partnership trinkets shipmen United Kingdom A brisk rofiable business transaoed undertaking I arrested emptin diamonds The trial lasted three weeks I found guilty fined L5 defaul months imprisonment I lodged appeal divisional where Judsment below quashed In I piled large ocstssion whioh Japanese firms I represented would spite onsant demands I proceed Japan Arabia Bombay Singapore Oahore Hon Kong Kobe In after return Japan I bought pieoe Avenor Aoora Nsawam Road foundation stone ereotion house The myself original design reproduoed On stands The Rolya Castle which spelt backwards represents Taylor Castle During thewthe approaohed lease My original ation L400 annum I agreed L300 effort When handed overome tremendous damagehadbeendone andis repairsbroughtthe castle L16 In oastle I reside mnent This soene Nil Bone opened oastle Nowadays keeps model Buiok small British garage hidden right panel live_r3r t__ru_ok usedbhis newspaper In foregoing aooount there exaggeration slantin points stand The completely story Nil Bonne never knownm himself forgotten whether embellishments fiction Some blanks sketched though exact facts cannot pinned Aocordin Japanese which representations Gold Coast overnment Nii Bonne displayed picture Supreme Court Aoora pointed impressive stone buildin offices oompaxtv Immediately prior World II Nii Bonne considerable means He ordered large shipment Japan mainly textiles appears worth about I00 those The arrived neither accepted They accumulated considerable demurrage charges which Nii Bonne contrived purchase originally ordered shipment small fraction value Not valuable arrive before movement goods Gold Coast severely reduced hostilities Vithin months value stock estimates doubled In manuscript Nil Bonne describes great length enstoolment chief In really twice chief His Osu Alata antse comes village Christianbourg really Aocra He chief whole villae about fourth representi thousand People In connection assuming title right chief small challened chief larger which waned subsection Nil Bonne defendant cause refused recognize plaintiff Osu Alata Ga Native Authority Council determine plaintiff title Alata Hantse The Council dismissed Nil Bonne appealed Provincial Commissioner hearin The defendant failed appear Nil Bonne alone evidence In brief maintained during ceremony includi tribution drinks allegiance higher chief became aggressive Nii Bonne described himself friendly humanitarian defendant adamant A dubious historical evidence introduced chiefs sittin Judgment recommended Governor approve title Reliable government officials there doubt chicanery political reasons overnment action As offic He historical right creatin chief prcotin headman growin entirely without precedent Bonne achieved other title Nana 0wusu Akenten 0yokohene Techiman difficulty The later Ashanti chief central country Ga coast However taken hiher councils chiefs although titles legally valid there sufficient aroma around insignificant would leadi think power derivin alone But there nothin spurious about Nil Bonne leadership success boycott drive against prices He eventually received support overnment reservations chiefs people managed airier bitterness reduce livin Gold Coast extent He shrewdly concentrated cheap ertiles which traded innumerable petty traders before reaching consumer aimin primarily cuttin prices large stores rather reducin intermediate profits larser number subsequent handlers Likewise measure British popular support bybrluglr angle worst abusers Syrian Levantine ertraction although large category firms cooperatin puttin disfavor British French commercial houses There endless meetings telegrams public hares Nil Bone traveled constantly interests people urned bribes I0 hushmoney boycott He explained although I money object He difficult decisions general agreement reduced prices achieved promised boycott certain A number followers threatened carried promise business people government claims He strenuous steps disassociate himself violence arose concurrently boycott In claimed reduced exile prices alone enough LS O00 month people His personal expenses L999 iemized financial statement close boycott campaign Nil Bonne visited Nigeria treated ceremony Yoruba chiefs prominent Ibo leaders government Because express himself perfectly English Nil Bonue people sometimes appears naive Except undersudable large streak eotism hinders Judgment shrewd He people everyhin happened Gold Coast since leadership starting boycott On other explained found necessary Gold Coas Liberal Par because radical Convention Peoples Party stron He looked source rival strength found workin So Ioforthosepeople Heisoneoftheleaders andafinancialcornerstone formed Gold Coast Labour Party oones early elections Vhether intrigues unions respected chiefs toward weakening P P havereally madethem P P scrowd verymuchafraid hemselves presently doubtful Nii Bonne striving nonetheless One necessary ingredient Gold Coast politics newspaper scandal sheet Nii Bonne probably poured presses scarce newsprin without drawin support handfl He however forgotten chase after pound penny In interview Roger Ross United S Information Service Nil B0nue tried unsuccessfullyo I allow himself print ictures sories America havin U S I S space newsprint North America havin8 U S I S dollars pounds their local expenses contravention currency regulations oolleo penny U S I S newspaper instead conribuin reurn pictures sories America dinner Nil Bonne Ross talked He impressed knowledge local conditions newcomer Ross questions revealed found business Nor Nil Bonne forgotten success He knows reason losing newspaper because sells penny Daily Graphlo sells eight price better makeup pictures sories The Graphic backed Flee Sree money among other thins night lurid headline papers being discussed Britis irliament Reconizln threat Nil Bonne called boycott Graphic which crudely expressed paper AWAY WHITEPRESS Ostensibly Bonne business enerally believed tacitly admitted money behind least local firms And besides newspaper politleal parties another scheme first announced public There someone offer reasonable financin small cocoa farmer often SuoEvith exorbitant interest charges before financed This recognized overnment conservative radical elements African leadership Hence there sense below appeal 7Gold C0attDjiyGuardian October OURCOCOA ARMERSCORNF Me From Kwabena Bonne IIi To Cocoa Farmers The Gold Coast Greeings Foc quite shouted merit rescue btedness poverty diseases All these years shouted shouted You sgili mercy Money Lenders Your farms other_properties still undor stringent pledges Ican assure youtayourday ofredemption whene hearties money lenders lifted under propod Nations Bank formed capital The purpose getting ational Ba ginancial Bondage under which lived ghese yeats God given Underhe6bcumstances Istrongly advise farmers jointheis Farmo Goup8 through whose 0ollective responsibility secur relief Farmers Gold Coast opportunity ROLYAT 0ASTLE NSAWAM ROAD ACCRA October The proposal sounds attractive subscribers potential borrowers their separately Those contribute capital receive referenoe share ordinary shares The purpose which Company formed National Fund which scholarship ranedothepublicforthefollowinpurposesz Toenablethesons oftheland overseas England Germany France Far East America acquire general knowledge Political Administration Engineering Electricity Building Road Construct Menufacturin Tertiles Chemicals Stock Brokers Farmin Educational Science The Bank financial farmers inerest She financial support those scholarships ranted completed their courses equipments enable returned their knowledge practical benefit country Will sufficient workin capital repaid Bank within years It interestln Bankers The Bank England Bank United Sates America The overnment watching enterprise close atention antioipation It important while neither leadin party C P P second strongest United Gold Co Convention mediu Nil Bonne equally speolfio issue oould unite country inoludlng traditional ohiosihe behind overnent gains score would produce oeustlons British ullying would believed volile poliielly conscious people There tpieal Cost politiois Nil Bonne differs romost thefollowingays Heiseeyoher arlyeye oneoeaesin politiesinsoot sdfarlessfoleducaon J B D falls close B A ofpele ineid Coastve 717adStdardXorgher senty veolen eleVenli fourves heyosarepretorhaverecentlyd babies arenorepresentave oftheeduoad dspeople Nil Bonne heodore Taylor single individual influence exercised diverse Troubled times territory person story government unfolds ineerely yours Edwin S Mugger Received New York