"Ramseyer's Report for the Year 1890"

Part of this report is printed as annex to the 1891 Annual Report, pp49f and 51f. Additional material: Personnel changes. Tschopp and Weber both left the station, and Haasis arrived. Catechist Kutabi was posted to Akpamim, Catechist Ntow was posted to Abetifi, and Catechist Boateng was assigned to Asante Akim though for family reasons, at the end of 1890 he was settled at Bepong. Teacher Kofi was dismissed – he seemed to have lest all desire to work after the death of his wife. Bepong was without a resident agent as a result. And Catechist Okyere was transferred from Mampong to Mpraeso. In the Abetifi community people of both sexes have been baptised, there are older men and women among them too. A number of catechumens have had their baptisms postponed, on account of their not seeming decided. He remarks that he has to constantly supervise the Christians when it comes to questions of custom and their employment. All the Christians - except one - are now on the station (the exception being an old lady) and Ramseyer clearly feels that the Christian village is now becoming something of an example - several of the houses have shingle roofs, and the heathens are proud of the place, as well as the Christians. He talks of difficulties nevertheless - he especially feels that there is too much noise, and indeed at their Saturday night conferences the community are continually breaking out into a noise which sounds like a serious quarrel, though it is in fact only a discussion. There were also 3 exclusions during the course of the year, apparently on account of sexual irregularities. A large number of the Christians were absent in the course of the year on the India-rubber trade, some of them earned some money thereby too. Ramseyer says this made him anxious, but he did not omit to warn people and on the whole he is content that they heeded his warninqs, and the only harm to the individuals involved was their missing of the blessings of attending services. Reporting on the outstations - remarking on the change of catechists in Mpraeso Ramseyer recalls Catechist Kwabi's attempts to draw people to him by lending them money as failures. In Obo 2 adults were baptised, and the school though small pleases Ramseyer. He repeats that the great difficulty is that the Obos spend several months a year on their farms. Nkwatia, one exclusion, Jonas Dako, who on returning from Krobo after a several month absence found his wife, who had just borne a child, on her death-bed. He made custom for her in the heathen manner – and then asked the missionaries for forgiveness. Asakraka is proving hard ground - few children for the school, two catechumens, one of whom suffered a stroke and had to be taken to his relatives in Nkwatia, the other only doubtfully serious. Pepease is going ahead slowly, partly because the chief takes exception to his subjects becoming Christians and has a reputation for exacting heavy fines. Ramseyer has warned him about his attitude more than once. In Aduammoa they failed to buy land on account of the political unquiet - the pretender and his uncle were residents of Aduammoa. Kwabi had apparently been resident for a time in Asante Akim, and removed from there on account of his posting. Boateng's main problem seems to have been that he had four small children, and Ramseyer wishes that he could send two people to settle in Asante Akim and relieve the loneliness thereby. One point he mentions is that in Bepong and Mpraeso the Christians were re-roofing some houses at least with shingles. Another point is that there is an unusually large amount of the discussion of the relative merits of different catechists and teachers. The following characteristics - desirable, or lacking, are mentioned - one is taciturn and quiet -this is not an appropriate characteristic, another is sui generis and not without a certain stinginess. Ramseyer is always warning the latter to get into closer touch with the people among whom he is working. Finally, as he was writing the report, DC Turton arrived with a party of Hausas to arrange the Kwahu stool dispute. The Abetifihene has been fined £32 and a peace settlement made.

06.02.1891

06.02.1891

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