Stories and facts

In April 1852, the British colonial administration introduced the Poll Tax Ordinance in the Gold Coast, aiming to create a steady source of revenue for governance and public services.

The ordinance was enacted by the Legislative Assembly in Cape Coast, which consisted of the Governor, Major Stephen John Hill, along with chiefs and headmen under British protection. Governor Hill signed the ordinance on behalf of the British Crown.

The law required every man, woman, and child living within British jurisdiction to pay a levy of one shilling per year. The revenue was intended to fund essential public services, including schools, hospitals, judicial administration, and the provision of water.

The measure was also designed to strengthen the alliance between the British and local chiefs, though in practice it had the opposite effect.

Despite its intentions, the poll tax soon proved problematic. Chiefs lost the trust of their people, who claimed they had not been consulted before the tax was imposed.

The British worsened matters by appointing their own tax collectors, many of whom were corrupt. Record-keeping was poor, and the funds collected were often mismanaged.

Additionally, the British failed to uphold their part of the agreement by neglecting to adequately protect the coastal communities from Ashanti incursions.

These challenges quickly eroded confidence in the system. By 1861, less than a decade after its introduction, the Poll Tax Ordinance was abolished.

What was meant to be a foundation for public infrastructure instead highlighted the fragility of colonial governance and the mistrust between the British authorities and the people they sought to rule.

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