Ghana’s Ashanti Pioneer Newspaper Aim High, Strive Hard, Go Forward

This book is a history of a prominent Ghanaian newspaper, the Ashanti Pioneer, as well as well-known figurers in the country itself. It utilizes the stories published in the newspaper to recount the history of the press, including its key individuals and groups, and to provide a unique perspective on the most important events in the Gold Coast during the mid-twentieth century, just prior to and after independence. This work will show that the Ashanti Pioneer influenced public opinion on several subjects. From its opening in 1939, the newspaper contributed greatly to the spread of newsworthy information throughout Ghana, formerly known as the Gold Coast, from Kumasi to the coastline and to its Northern borders. Readers interested in African History, independence movements and newspaper history will find this work insightful.  

1. Introduction.- 2. Transitioning to an Independent Press: the opening of the Ashanti Pioneer newspaper.- 3. Nationalism in Print: British attempts to control the West African and Gold Coast newspapers.- 4. Through the Eyes of the Press: Gold Coast political movements, 1946-1949.- 5. Approaching Independence: transitioning from the Gold Coast to Ghana, 1950-1956.- 6. Covering Independence: the final years of the Ashanti Pioneer, 1957-1968. 7. Epilogue.- 8. Appendix A: John and Nancy Tisboe travel documents 

Jarvis L. Hargrove is Associate Professor of History and Director of African & African American Studies at East Carolina University, USA. He has published articles in the Journal of West African History, Liberian Studies Journal and Transactions of the Historical Society of Ghana. He is also the recipient of an American Council of Learned Society Digital Extension Grant.