JOHN MENSAH SARBAH (1864–1910)

Lawyer, Statesman, Educationist, and Pioneer of Anti-Colonial Politics in the Gold Coast

John Mensah Sarbah was born on Friday, 3 June 1864, in Anomabu, in the Fante Confederacy of the Gold Coast (now Ghana). He was the eldest son of John Sarbah (1834–1892), a prosperous merchant of Anomabu and Cape Coast who also served as a member of the Legislative Council of the Gold Coast, and his wife Sarah. Sarbah began his education at the Cape Coast Wesleyan School, which he would later rename Mfantsipim School, one of Ghana’s most prestigious secondary schools. He furthered his studies in England at Queen’s College, Taunton, Somerset, where he matriculated in 1884. He then entered Lincoln’s Inn in London to study law, and in 1887 he was called to the English Bar, becoming the first African from the Gold Coast to qualify as a barrister in England.

Legal and Political Career

Returning to the Gold Coast, Sarbah quickly distinguished himself in both law and politics. His leadership and intellectual contributions made him one of the foremost political thinkers of his generation. In 1897, alongside J. W. de Graft-Johnson, J. W. Sey, J. P. Brown, and J. E. Casely Hayford, he co-founded the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society (ARPS). This organisation spearheaded the organised resistance against colonial policies, particularly land legislation such as the Crown Lands Bill of 1897, which threatened traditional land tenure. The ARPS became the leading political body in the Gold Coast, and its activism laid the foundation for the later nationalist movements that achieved Ghanaian independence in 1957. Sarbah was appointed to the Legislative Council of the Gold Coast in 1901, and he was reappointed in 1906. His eloquence, integrity, and tireless advocacy for African rights earned him widespread respect across the colony. In 1910, in recognition of his service, Sarbah was awarded the Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (CMG) in the Birthday Honours of King George V.

Contributions to Education

One of Sarbah’s greatest legacies lies in education. He was deeply committed to advancing secondary education in the Gold Coast. In 1903, together with William Edward Sam, he helped promote the Fanti Public Schools Limited, an initiative to expand educational opportunities. He established the Fanti National Education Fund, which supported scholarships and educational infrastructure. When his alma mater, Mfantsipim School, faced financial difficulties, Sarbah personally contributed to the salaries of its teachers, ensuring its survival. He created the Dutton Sarbah Scholarship in honour of his younger brother, Joseph Dutton Sarbah, who had died while a student at Queen’s College, Taunton, in 1892. Through these efforts, Sarbah strengthened the foundation of secondary education in Ghana and inspired a generation of leaders.

Personal Life

In 1904, John Mensah Sarbah married Marion Wood of Accra. The couple had three children. John Mensah Sarbah’s life was cut short when he died suddenly on Sunday, 27 November 1910, at the age of 46. His passing was a great loss to the emerging nationalist movement and to the Gold Coast at large. Sarbah is remembered as a true pioneer of Ghanaian nationalism, a legal trailblazer, and a champion of education. In 1963, the University of Ghana named one of its major residential halls Mensah Sarbah Hall in his honour. A statue of Sarbah stands in front of the hall, and its students proudly call themselves “Vikings”, symbolising Sarbah’s fearless spirit. At Mfantsipim School, Sarbah-Picot House was named after him. His contributions to law, politics, and education established him as one of the architects of modern Ghana, a man whose vision for African dignity and self-determination continues to inspire generations.