Sir Gordon Guggisberg Development Plan of 1919

On November 17,1919, Governor Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg drew a ten year development plan for Gold Coast. Canadian born Sir Fredrick Gordon Guggisberg was appointed as the Governor general of Gold Coast in 1919.

Before coming into Gold Coast, he was then Governor of Sierra Leone one of the British West African countries. Sir Frederick Gordon is considered as one of the best Governors Gold Coast has ever had due to his hardworking ability that he put up in all sectors in the country.

Taking transportation into consideration, Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg built Takoradi Harbour to be an avenue to import and export essential commodities in the country.

On November 17,1919 , Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg presented a ten year plan of development in the country.

Some elements in his plan was improvement in healthcare. With this, He constructed the first Hospital in Gold Coast that is Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in 1923 to promote personal hygiene, good healthcare among others. Many indegenous were also trained in medical field.

Improvement in Education. This is was a key element in his visionary plan to develop the country. Sir Fredrick Gordon Guggisberg built Schools in the country to promote promote literacy in the country. He built Achimota School with support from Gold Coast scholar, James Kwegyir Aggrey. He also built many schools in other communities to fulfill his plan to improve education in the country.

Politically, Guggisberg plan and introduce elective principles into Gold Coast policies. Under him this principle of participatory democracy was introduced to improve African inclusion in the colonial administration. He also established Provincial Councils of chiefs to ensure that chieftaincy institution is given the recognition it deserves.

Guggisberg included improvement in Agricultural development in his plan. He realized that majority of the Gold Coasters were farmers so he encouraged the production of cash crops including cotton, cocoa and coffee. He also declared that there will be an increase in cocoa yied in governance.

He was able to achieve it when Gold Coast (Ghana) became the number one producer of cocoa in the world market.

Additionally, He created employment opportunities for Gold Coasters. Under him, many qualified Gold Coasters were employed into cilvil and public services as he suggested in his ten year plan.