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CONSTITUTION OF THE NEW FANTEE CONFEDERACY.To all whom it may concern.
Whereas we, the undersigned kings and chiefs of Fanti, have taken into consideration the deplorable state of our peoples and subjects in the interior of the Gold Coast, and whereas we are of opinion that unity and concord among ourselves would conduce to our mutual well being, and promote and advance the social and political condition of our peoples and subjects, who are in a state of degradation, without the means of education and of carrying on proper industry, we, the said kings and chiefs, after having duly discussed and considered the subject at meetings held at Mankessini on the 16th day of October (1871) last and following days, have unanimously resolved and agreed upon the articles hereinafter named.
ARTICLE I. That we, the kings and chiefs of Fanti here present, form ourselves into a committee with the view of effecting unity of purpose and of action between the kings and chiefs of the Fanti territory.
ARTICLE 2. That we, the kings and chiefs here assembled, now form ourselves into a compact body for the purpose of more effectually bringing about certain improvements (here-after to be considered) in the country.
ARTICLE 3. That this compact body shall be recognised under the title and designation of the Fanti Confederation.
ARTICLE 4. That there shall be elected a president, vice president, secretary, un-der secretary, treasurer, and assistant treasurer.
ARTICLE 5. That the president be elected from the body of kings, and be proclaimed king president of the Fanti Confederation.
ARTICLE 6. That the vice president, secretary and under secretary, treasurer, and assistant treasurer, who shall constitute the ministry, be men of educa?tion and position.
ARTICLE 7. That it be competent to the Fanti Confederation thus constituted to receive into its body politic any other king or kings, chief or chiefs, who may not now be present.
ARTICLE 8. That it be the object of the Con?federation: Section 1. To promote friendly intercourse between all the kings and chiefs of Fanti, and to unite them for offensive and defensive purposes against their common enemy. Section 2. To direct the labours of the Con?federation towards the improvement of the coun-try at large. Section 3. To make good and substantial roads throughout all the interior districts included in the Confederation. Section 4. To erect school houses and establish schools for the education of all children within the Confederation, and to obtain the service of efficient schoolmasters. Section 5. To promote agricultural and industrial pursuits, and to endeavour to introduce such new plants as may hereafter become sources of profitable commerce to the country. Section 6. To develop and facilitate the working of the mineral and other resources of the country.
ARTICLE 9. That an executive council be formed, composed of the vice president, secre-tary, under?secretary, treasurer, and assistant treasurer, who shall be ex officio members thereof, together with such others as may be hereafter from time to time appointed.
ARTICLE 10. That in order that the business of the Confederation be properly carried on dur-ing the course of the year, each king and principal chief shall appoint two representatives, one educated, the other a chief or headman of the district of such king and principal chief, who shall attend the meetings which the secretary may deem necessary to convene for the delibera-tion of State matters.
ARTICLE 11. That the representatives of the kings and chiefs assembled in council shall be known under the designation of the ?Representative Assembly of the Fanti Confederation," and that this assembly be called together by the secretary as State exigency may require.
ARTICLE 12. That this representative assembly shall have the power of preparing, laws, ordinances, bills, &c., of using proper means for effectually carrying out the resolutions, &c., of the Government, of examining any questions laid before it by the ministry and by any of the kings and chiefs, and, in fact, of exercising all the functions of a legis?lative body.
ARTICLE 13. That the representative of each king and chief be responsible to the nation for the effectual carrying out of the bills, resolutions, &c., passed at such meetings, and ap-proved of by the king president.
ARTICLE 14. That the appointment of the repre?sentatives nominated by the kings and prin-cipal chiefs be notified to the secretary, who shall make it known to all the members of the national Government.
ARTICLE 15. That the National Assembly shall appoint an educated man to represent the king-?president, and act as vice president of the Confedera?tion; and that the vice president shall preside over all meetings convened by the secretary.
ARTICLE 16. That there shall be in the month of October of each year a gathering of the kings, principal chiefs, and others within the Confederation, when a recapitulation of the business done by the Representative Assembly shall be read, and the programme of the ensu-ing year discussed.
ARTICLE 17. That at such meetings the king-?president shall preside, and that it be the duty of the king president to sanction all laws, ordinances, &c., passed by the Representative As-sembly, so far as they are compatible with the interests of the country.
ARTICLE 18. That the king president shall not have the power to pass any, or originate any, laws, resolutions, ordinances, bills, &c., nor create any office or appointment, excepting by, and under the advice of the ministry.
ARTICLE 19. That the representatives of the kings and principal chiefs hold office as members of the Representative Assembly for three years, at the expiration of which it shall be competent for the kings and chiefs to re elect the same or appoint other representatives.
ARTICLE 20. That the members of the Ministry and Executive Council hold office for three years, and that it is competent to the National Assembly to re elect all or any of them and appoint others.
ARTICLE 21. That national schools be established at as early a period as possible in the following districts : Braffoo Country, Abrah, Ayan, Gomowah, Eckunifi, Edgimacoe, Denhia and Assin.
ARTICLE 22. That normal schools be attached to each national school for the express pur-pose of educating and instructing the scholars as carpenters, masons, sawyers, joiners, agricul-turists, smiths, architects, builders, &c.
ARTICLE 23. That schools be also established, and schoolmistresses procured to train and teach the female sex, and to instruct them in the necessary requisites.
ARTICLE 24. That the expense of erecting each school be defrayed from the national purse, but that each king and chief be requested to render all possible aid to facilitate the movement by supplying men and materials.
ARTICLE 25. That in districts where there are Wesleyan Schools at present established the kings and chiefs be requested to insist on the daily attend?ance of all children between the ages of eight and fourteen.
ARTICLE 26. That main roads be made, con?necting various provinces or districts with one another, and with the sea coast; that the roads be made after the following standard, viz., fif-teen feet broad, with good deep gutters on either side, and that the attention of the Confedera-tion be first directed to the main road connecting Edgimacoe, Ayan, Ayanmain, and Mankes-sim, with the sea coast.
ARTICLE 27. That the kings and principal chiefs be allowed a stipulated sum for the ex-press purpose of maintaining the roads in proper order.
ARTICLE 28. That a site or town, unanimously agreed upon, be chosen as the nominal capital of the Confederation, where the principal business, of the State should be conducted.
ARTICLE 29. That provincial assessors be appointed in each province or district, who shall perform certain judicial functions, and attend to the internal management thereof.
Quelle: Hayford, J. E. Casely. 1903. 1970. Gold Coast Native Institutions. With Thoughts upon a Healthy Imperial Pol-icy of the Gold Coast and Ashanti. London: Frank Cass, 327-340.
DSC00445 - World Of Jah
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HIM ON THE WALL OF HARLEM PAINTING BY I N I TAFARI