To Teresa Rubie
Contents
Introduction. Consuming Histories and Creating Economies
Chapter 1. A Door “Wide Open” Imagining Gold Coast Markets
Chapter 2. “We Cannot Afford to Be Fooled” African Intermediaries on Shifting Commercial Terrain
Chapter 3. “In Time for Independence” Kingsway Department Store, Modernity, and the New Nation
Chapter 5. “Power to the People” Militarization of the Market and the War against Profiteers
Afterword. From Structural Adjustment to Shopping Malls
Illustrations
FIGURES
1.1. Exterior of provision store, Sekondi, ca. 1910
1.2. Interior of provision store, Accra, May 1907
1.3. Interior of provision store, Sekondi, ca. 1912
2.1. Isaac Ogoe celebrates his eightieth birthday, Sekondi, ca. 1970
2.2. UAC passbook belonging to Madam Amba Otwiwa, ca. 1950–60
2.3. UAC passbook belonging to Mrs. Annah Manful, ca. 1950–60
2.4. Esther Mensah at UAC Swanmill, Accra, August 3, 1950
3.1. Exterior of Kingsway Department Store, Accra, ca. 1957
3.2. Post office counter, Kingsway Department Store, Accra, ca. 1960
3.3. Hat sale, February features, Kingsway Department Store, Accra, February 1960
3.4. Cosmetics counter, Kingsway Department Store, Accra, ca. 1960
3.5. Salesmen preparing a display, Kingsway Department Store, Accra, ca. 1960
3.6. “Your Way,” advertisement, ca. 1955
3.7. “What We Like about Kingsway,” advertisement, ca. 1957
3.8. Lovely Babies competition, Kingsway Department Store, Accra, May 29–June 10, 1960
4.1. Ghana’s first International Trade Fair, original brochure cover, February 1965
5.1. Ghana National Trading Corporation staff, Nsawam, March 28, 1968
TABLE
5.1. Controlled prices versus market prices in 1976, as reported by the Wenchi district office
Acknowledgments
I AM FOREVER INDEBTED to the mentors, colleagues, students, friends, and family who have supported me in the process of writing this book. At the University of California–Santa Barbara I had the honor of working with an inspiring group of mentors. I am deeply indebted to Stephan Miescher, who initially sparked my interest in Ghana’s history as a young undergraduate and has continued to offer endless support, deep insight, and intellectual guidance through the years. His passion and commitment to teaching, writing, and researching in the field of African history has served as a model and constant source of motivation. Erika Rappaport advocated for the importance of my research from its earliest stages. Her inventions have been deeply formative, as have the rigor and creativity she brings to historical writing. Eileen Boris pushed me to look beyond the obvious in studying race and gender and helped sharpen my feminist approach; her scholarship and political commitments to mentoring students are a model for me. I have also benefited from the scholarship and teaching of Catherine Cole and Sylvester Ogbechie. UCSB graduate courses with Adrienne Edgar, Sharon Farmer, Lisa Jacobson, Joan Judge, Cecilia Méndez, Leila Rupp, and at University of California–Los Angeles with Andrew Apter further influenced this work.
In Ghana my research would not have been possible without the support and generosity of many people. I am grateful to Emily Asiedu, “Auntie,” for opening her home to me year after year and for introducing me to the family of a legendary United Africa Company credit customer. At the University of Ghana, professors Takyiwaa Manuh and Dzodzi Tsikata offered research advice and arranged venues where I could present my work. I owe an enormous thanks to the interviewees who generously shared their time and knowledge with me; among them, Nana Anwasi Agyemang, Kwesi Akumenya Cato, Edward Akurang Dankwa, Sadiku Musah, and Deborah Quartey deserve special mention. I am also grateful to Vicki Wireko-Andoh from Unilever Ghana for her help; to Benjamin Buadu Codjoe and Kobina A. Dodoo for their invaluable research assistance and good company; to my Twi teachers, Yaw Douglas Ansomani and Charles Owu-Ewie, for their patience; to Hannah Serwah Bonsu, Stella “Beauty” Mensah, and Hajara Sanni for their friendship; and to Alicia, Abdul, Mama Boats, Ohemaa, and Yaa for sharing their youthful spirits.
Over the years I have also been privileged to work with brilliant Africanist colleagues who have offered critical insights, asked challenging questions, and provided invaluable advice on my research, both in formal conference proceedings and in the informal exchanges that drive much of what we do as researchers and writers. For helping to make this a much better book, I thank Gareth Austin, Jeffrey Ahlman, Charles Ambler, Karin Barber, Sara Berry, Peter Bloom, Lynne Brydon, Mhoze Chikowero, Stephanie Decker, Laura Fair, Amadou Fofana, Harcourt Fuller, Jennifer Hart, Jennifer Hasty, Anne Hugon, Lisa Lindsay, Tom McCaskie, Ghislaine
