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Posted by Chester Morton / Friday 5 May 2017 / No comments
The reasons for the failure of the Poll Tax Ordinance of 1852 in the Gold Coast
REASONS FOR THE FAILURE
OF THE GOLD COAST POLL TAX OF 1852
Introduction
In a bid to raise funds for the provision of social amenities
for the people of the Southern States of the Gold Coast, the Poll Tax Ordinance
of 1852 was passed by the British colonial authorities. According to the terms
of the Ordinance, every adult citizen was to pay a tax of one shelling annually
and this was to be applied to the provision of amenities such as schools,
hospitals, water, etc. The Ordinance was signed by Stephen John Hill on behalf
of the British Crown.
The Ordinance did not operate for long, because it was
fraught with myriads of problems. In short, the quest to raise the needed money
through the Poll Tax, to provide amenities for the people failed. In the end, the
Ordinance was withdrawn in 1861.
Several reasons were given for the failure of the Ordinance
to last long.
WHY THE POLL TAX FAILED
Misapplication of proceeds
One of the causes of the failure of the Poll Tax was the diversion
of the fund for purposes other than were slated for in the Ordinance. The
funds were meant to provide social amenities for the people of the Southern
states but part of it was rather being diverted to pay salaries for the Civil
Servants. This was vehemently opposed by the people.
Embezzlement of tax proceeds
It was soon discovered that part of the tax funds was being
embezzled by the tax collectors. The people felt that the collection of the tax
was no longer justifiable if it was going to be literally pilfered by the very
people who were assigned to collect and protect it. This also contributed to
the collapse of the tax.
Weak monitoring
Another problem which led to the failure of the Poll Tax
Ordinance was the absence of an adequate monitoring system. As a result of the inadequate monitoring, some of the tax collectors were alleged to have pocketed part of the monies collected
from the people. This also created lots of problems for the tax regime.
Poor patronage
According to the terms of the Ordinance, every adult was to
pay an annual tax of one shilling. Most of the residents could not meet this
obligation because they were poor and could not afford it. This led to poor
patronage. In effect, many people ended up not paying the tax at all.
Lack of consultation
The local people of the Southern parts of the Gold Coast were
angry with their traditional authorities for going into an agreement,
concerning tax payment, with the British without any consultation with the
subjects. For this reason, they, at a point stopped paying the tax all
together.
Failure of the British to protect the coastal states from the
Ashantis
Also, the chiefs of the coastal states felt that the British
were not providing enough protection for them against the marauding Ashantis
who were constantly harassing them. One of the ways the chiefs reacted to this
lack of adequate protection from the British was to call on their subjects not
to fulfill their tax obligation to the colonial authorities. This also
contributed to the failure of the Poll Tax.
Conclusion
As a result of all the problems associated with the Poll Tax
Ordinance, the Ordinance was finally scrapped by the colonialists in 1861.
SAMPLE QUESTION(S)
1. Outline six reasons for the failure of the Poll Tax
Ordinance of 1852.
2. Account for the failure of the Poll Tax Ordinance of 1852.
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