James Mercer (Political Delegate)
James Mercer (died 1923) was a prominent figure in the pre-independence struggles of the Gold Coast (now Ghana). He was nominated by chiefs of the western and central regions to serve as the spokesperson of key delegations sent by the Gold Coast to engage the British colonial authorities in London.[1][2][3]
Early Life
Mercer was an outspoken representative of the delegation sent by the Okyenhene (ruler of the Akyem Abuakwa state) on behalf of the Gold Coast to protest against some colonial policies. He lived next door to Paa Grant in Sekondi and was a neighbor and friend of Kwame Nkrumah, who became Ghana's first prime minister in 1957.[1]
Death
Mercer died in a car accident in London while serving as a delegate in 1923. His death was a blow to the pre-independence struggles, and the Aborigines Rights Protection Society (ARPS) delegation returned to Ghana. However, Mercer's legacy lived on, and his family members continued to contribute to the development of Ghana.[2]
Additional Contributions
Kwame Nkrumah appointed Mercer's eldest son, Thomas Mends Kodwo-Mercer, as the Chairman of the Cocoa Marketing Board, Chair of Cocoa Marketing Company, Chair of the Produce Buying Agency, University College of Science and Tech Planning Committee, and Akosombo (VRA) Planning Committee. In 1952, Nkrumah asked Thomas Mercer to relinquish all his appointments in Ghana and assume a novel appointment in the UK as the First Diplomat from the pre-independent Gold Coast. Thomas Mends Kodwo-Mercer became known in Ghana's Foreign Service as Ghana's First Gold Coast Commissioner and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to gain Ghana's independence from the United Kingdom. James Mercer’s other son, James Mercer II, became Ghana’s ambassador to Israel and Peking.[4]
Legacy
Today James Mercer's grandchildren consist of Andrew Egyapa Mercer, serving as the Member of Parliament for Sekondi; Dr. Ekwow Spio Garbrah, the former Minister of Education and Ghanaian Ambassador to the United States of America; Frances Adu-Mante[5], Chair of ABSA Bank Ghana;[6] and Sally Hayfron, the former first lady of Zimbabwe. His great-grandson is James Mercer, founder of the social media platform, tayp.[7][8]
References
- ↑ Gocking, Roger (2005). The History of Ghana. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313318948. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Atakro, Mawutor Benjamin (14 March 2023). "James Mercer, The Unknown Quantity Of The Then Gold Coast". The Ghana Report. Retrieved 14 March 2023.
- ↑ Rohdie, Samuel (November 1965). "The Gold Coast Aborigines Abroad". The Journal of African History. 6 (3): 389–411. doi:10.1017/S0021853700005879. Unknown parameter
|s2cid=ignored (help) - ↑ Ephson, Isaac S. (1971). "Gallery of Gold Coast Celebrities, 1632-1958". Ilen Publications.
- ↑ "https://mobile.twitter.com/oldachimotans/status/1362403639680245767". Twitter. Retrieved 2023-03-29. External link in
|title=(help) - ↑ Larnyoh, Magdalene Teiko (1 February 2021). "Absa Bank Ghana Limited appoints Frances Adu-Mante as Board Chair". Business Insider Africa. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
- ↑ "James Mercer - The Sound of Accra Podcast". 2020-12-06. Retrieved 2023-03-29.
- ↑ "Tayp". tayp.app.
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