Amédée William Merlaud-Ponty was a French colonial administrator (b. 4 February 1866 in Rochefort, Charente-Maritime; d. 13 June 1915 in Dakar, Senegal). He was a Governor General of French West Africa (1908–1915) who particularly interested himself in the economic development and education of Africa.
During World War I, Merlaud-Ponty was responsible for recruiting volunteers for African battlefields.
At Dakar's railway station a 1923 monument dedicated "to the creators of French West Africa and the glory of the Black army" features Paul Ducuing's statues of the tirailleur Demba and the zouave Dupont.[1] The same monument honours the French conqueror of Senegal, Louis Faidherbe, as well as four Governors General, Noël Ballay, Joost van Vollenhoven, François Clozel and Ponty himself.[2]