The Cross and the Crown: A Study of the Interplay Between Christian Missionaries and Colonialists in the Gold Coast

Abstract

The nature of the relations between European imperialists and European Christian missionaries in Africa has resulted in various perceptions, opinions, and interpretations about their roles on the continent. While some scholars argue that the missionaries are forerunners of colonialism, thereby paving the way for Europeans to colonise Africa, some are of the opinion that, it was the European imperialists who made it possible for the missionaries to spread Christianity in Africa. Still, others opine that the missionaries were genuine men of God seeking to spread the word without any political inclinations. The findings of some case studies have been used as generalisation for the whole continent, but the issue requires a holistic approach to achieve a more balanced assessment. This paper therefore undertook a study of Ghana to examine the specific role of the early European Christian missionaries in the country. Were they agents of colonialism in disguise or genuine men of God? The paper explored the intersections, conflicts, and collaborations between the European Christian missionaries and the imperialists within the region of modern-day Ghana, tracing from the arrival of the first Europeans up to the period of colonial rule. The evidence from this study revealed that, in the case of Ghana, the Christian missionaries were genuine and not forerunners for the European imperialists. Their interactions and the resultant consequences were accidental and not deliberately orchestrated. This paper contributes to the history of Christianity in Ghana with emphasis on the specific role of early European Christian missionaries.