"Buck to Basel"

Reports on the judicial process against Ata in Accra. Buck recalls that he had appealed to the Governor for the imposition of freedom to pursue crop and naimal husbandry and any type of craft in Akim, 'otherwise it would be possible for the missionaries to educate their new converts into being useful members of human society and busy and competent citizens.' Buck also had told him that slavery was continuing in Akim as it had before the Emancipation. Governor Ussher's reaction was to make the king answerable for allowing the peaceful pursuit of occupations, but also to point out that the missionaries were doing wrong in not bringing specific cases before him (the Governor). Buck therefore informed him of what he had seen when during a visit to Anyinam in October 1879 when following extortion by Ata a whole row of people were sold off into slavery or pawn. The man responsible for the sales was charged, but he in turn charged Ata of complicity in a wide range of incidents of this kind. After the government case had failed in most of the charges brought against him, however, Buck was brought down from Kibi and asked if he would assist the Government in making a sound case against Ata, this arrangements would be made to keep his paft in this confidential. He has agreed to help though he is pessimistic about the outcome.

02.03.1880

02.03.1880

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