Politics of Disaster: Earthquake, Rehousing, and Confronting Colonial Rule in Accra (Gold Coast/Ghana), 1939–45

• Published in: Journal of African history Vol. 64; no. 2; pp. 292 - 305
• Main Author: Bin-Kasim, Waseem-Ahmed
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.07.2023
• Subjects: Academic discourse; Decolonization; Destructiveness; Disaster management; Disaster relief; Disasters; Discontent; Earthquakes; Emergency preparedness; Epidemics; Governors; Nationalism; Natural disasters; Political conventions; Politics; Redevelopment; Renovation & restoration; Residential mobility; Riots; Strength; Urban population; Europe; Ghana; Africa; colonialism; nationalism; Ghana; microhistory; urban; West Africa

Despite its destructiveness, disaster clears the way to accomplish a set of goals. That was why the Gold Coast governor and officials welcomed the 1939 earthquake as an opportunity to rebuild Accra. However, mishandling their reconstruction plan proved disadvantageous. The aftermath of the disaster,...