GHANA IN LONDON
Latest news on the Ghanaian community in London
Kidnap and education
​During the 18th Century, many African rules sent their children to get education in London. But, numerous of them were captivated and enslaved for later to be use as ransom for trade. One of the most famous kidnap was that of William Ansah Sessarakoo. He was son of John Corantee who was a Fante ruler of Anomabo. He was sent to London to get a better education but was then kidnap and trafficked to Barberdos. When the father was made aware of the issue he declared that he will not trading with England unless his son was freed. The British government was able to release him and his companion. On his return to London he was celebrated and together with his brother they became notorious.
Kwame Nkrumah house in Camden
The first Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah also studied and lived in London from 1945 to 1947. During his stay in the capital, Nkrumah and many students from Ghana created the West African National Secretariat, which aimed to campaign for the independece of West African countries. When Ghana gain their independence in 1957, Nkrumah now leading the former Gold Cost decided to establish Africa Unity House in Collingwood Gardens as the main building of all Africans in London.
From trade to slavery
People from the former Gold Cost has been coming and living in London since the mid 16th Century. In 1555 John Lok who was a merchant working in London, brought five Ghanaians from a town called Sharma to be interpreters and support during England's trade with West Africans. Many workers at that time where free not in slavery. But after the economic links ware established many English wanted to acquire gold without paying. In 1562 John Hackwins started enslaving Africans and brought them to England to work. For two centuries people from the Gold Cost were being trafficked to work as slaves in the capital. Specific numbers of how many from Ghana were brought to London is hard to determine as many slaves were renamed and it made it impossible to find out their origins.
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History of Ghanaians in London
Quobna Ottobah Cugoano's book on slave trade. First African author to write a memour of on slavery.
Picture countery of: Museum of London
William Ansah Sessarakoo potraied by the London artist Gabriel Mathias.
Picture coutesy of: the National Portrait Gallery.
Making the modern Ghana in London
In the 20th century many from the Gold Cost contributed to established the African Progress Union and Union of Students of African, which were created to discuss about the African political and welfare organisations. In that time many Ghanaians students in London also formed the Gold Coast Students Associations which helps to campaigned against colonialism and to educated people about racism in the capital.
Ghanaians students in London
Picture coutesy of: Museum of London
The house where Kwame Nkrumah (first Ghanaian president) resided in London
Picture coutesy of: K. Smith