The 1908 Native Jurisdiction Ordinance: How Britain Ruled Through Chiefs

In 1908, the British colonial government on the Gold Coast passed the Native Jurisdiction Ordinance, a law that transformed the traditional chieftaincy into an instrument of indirect rule. This episode explores how the Ordinance codified the powers of chiefs like the Okyenhene and the Gã Mantse, created native courts and treasuries, and sparked resistance from educated Africans who saw it as a tool to sideline the emerging elite. We look at the role of Governor John Pickersgill Rodger, the precedents set by Sir Donald Cameron in Northern Nigeria, and the lasting impact on Ghana's political landscape—from the rise of the intelligentsia to the formation of the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society. A crucial but often overlooked chapter in the story of how Ghana moved from traditional rule to colonial bureaucracy to independence. #GoldCoast #NativeJurisdictionOrdinance #IndirectRule #JohnPickersgillRodger #Okyenhene #GãMantse #AboriginesRightsProtectionSociety #ColonialAdministration #Chieftaincy #GhanaHistory #WestAfrica #BritishEmpire #1908 #NativeCourts #EducatedElite #FexingoHistory #History #Colonialism Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo