This tutorial will outline the aims or objectives of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society (ARPS).
Formation of the ARPS
The Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society or ARPS was a Gold Coast protest movement formed in May 1897 at Cape Coast.
The brain behind to formation of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society was John Mensah Sarbah.
Some other leading members of the ARPS were J.E. Casely Hayford, Kwegyir Aggrey, Kobina Sekyi and Jacob Wilson Sey.
Jacob Wilson Sey was the first president of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society.
Aims and objectives of the ARPS
A close look at the objectives of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society clearly points to the fact that it was a proto-nationalist movement. Its primary concern was to see social and constitutional reforms introduced in the administration of the Gold Coast Colony.
1. The primary objective of the founders of the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society was to oppose the obnoxious Lands Bill introduced by the colonial authorities. The Lands Bill was intended to place all unsold Gold Coast land under the authority of the British Crown.
2. Another aim of the ARPS was to inculcate in the people of the Gold Coast knowledge of their history, laws, customs and traditional institutions
3. The Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society also sought to sensitize the people on the need to remain loyal to the Britain crown. This clearly underlined the proto-nationalist character of the ARPS.
4. The next objective of the ARPS was to seek the welfare of the people of the Gold Coast at through legal means and at all times
5. Finally, the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society aimed to fight for African representation in the executive and legislative councils in the colonial government of the Gold Coast.
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Ralph Nyadzi is the Director of Studies at Cegast Academy. He is a qualified English tutor with decades of experience behind him. Since 2001, he has successfully coached thousands of High School General Arts WASSCE candidates in English, Literature and related subjects. He combines his expertise with a passion for lifelong learning to guide learners from varying backgrounds to achieve their educational goals. Ralph shares lessons from his blogging journey on BloggingtotheMax. He lives with River, his pet cat, in the Central Region of Ghana.
