James Bannerman

For the Canadian radio and television broadcaster whose professional name was James Bannerman, see John McNaught.

James Bannerman (1790-1858) was a colonial governor of Ghana from December 4, 1850 to October 14, 1851.

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Gold Coast "HERES OF OUR TIME" - article by A. B. Chinbuah (Accra "DAILY GRAPHIC" Friday,June 30,2006)

TODAY WE FEATURE : JAMES BANNERMAN, Lieutenant Governor of the Gold Coast

The overseas civil service established by the British in its colonies and settlements was

known for its efficiency, good governance and competence. No wonder it produced men of

competenece and good character, who abhorred corruption, laziness, incompetence and

inefficiency at their jobs. Their attitude to work was excellent and admirable.

     The credit of maintaining such praiseworthy administration and civil service

goes not only to the British but also to the natives of their colonies and settlements.

     One of such native civil servants who lived a life of righteousness in conformity with

the high standards mentioned was James Bannerman, who rose from humble beginnings in the civil

service to the top of the hierarchy in the civil service as a Lieutenant Governor.

     He served in several capacities as an interpreter, a soldier, treasurer, map reader and

administrator for 20 years until he was promoted Lieutenent Governor under Governor Sir William

Winniet.

     James Bannerman was born in Cape Coast on March 12, 1790, to a British Commandant at Cape

Coast castle in the services of the Royal Africa Company and a Fante woman. He was educated at

the Cape Coast Government School and continued his education in England. Though his father was

Scottish, James Bannerman claimed he was a Gold Coast native through his mother, by Akan

customary law. He therefore returned immediately after his schooling in England.

   He became a prosperous Accra merchant, prince and administrator. He became concerned about

the declining trade in the British settlements in the Gold Coast because of the high taxes

imposed by the British, which impoverished the Gold Coast coastal towns while the Ashantis were

making better profits by trading with the Dutch and Danish Settlements.

   During the Governorship of Captain George Maclean, between 1830 and 1843, Britain managed

through peaceful negotiations to persuade the Ashantis to bring their wares to the British post

rather than to the Danish and Dutch posts. James Bannerman supported this policy. So he

surrendered to Captain Maclean (without any compensation) the Ashanti war captives he had

ransomed after the battle of Akatamansu in 1826.

 Captain Maclean wisely returned these and other redeemed captives to the Ashantis as

a condition for the resumption of trade. But James Bannerman held back one very beautiful jet

black woman who happened to be a princess and the daughter of the Asantehene, Nana Osei Akoto,

who reigned as Asantehene from 1824 to 1838. Her name was Yiadom (alias BLACK BEAUTY, QUEEN OF

SHEBA). James Bannerman married her and she became a life-long partner (1826 to 1845), who

assisted him in all his endeavours. They had 3 children, Charles, Samuel and Edumnd (Chärles

Edmund Woolhouse or C.E.W.)

Additional info:

James Bannerman led a group of Gold Coast merchants (including Brodie Cruikchank, a Scot, and

J. Clouston) to send to the British Secretary of State for the colonies a proposal demanding

that a council of experienced Gold Coast citizens be elected to assist the British Governot of

the Gold Coast. ]] (Edem Korsi Blewuada).