Parliament has received an original copy of the Bond of 1844, a defining document in the country’s colonial and constitutional evolution.
The official handover took place in Accra, with Juliette Desplat, Head of International Affairs at the British National Archives, and Keith McMahon, Chargé d’Affaires at the British High Commission, presenting the document to Ghana’s Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin.
Describing the gesture as significant, Bagbin noted that it was more than a ceremonial gift. “This is a proud moment for Parliament and for all Ghanaians.
The Bond of 1844 is a critical piece of our history,” he said. The Speaker added that the document will be showcased at Parliament’s in-house museum, to aid public education and offer historical insight into Ghana’s legal foundations.
The Bond of 1844—signed between British colonial officers and Fante chiefs in the then Gold Coast—marked the formal start of British legal jurisdiction over local territories.
The agreement established that serious crimes such as murder and robbery would be tried according to British law, effectively paving the way for deeper colonial rule.
The British delegation emphasized the importance of returning historical documents to their origins, stating that such gestures promote transparency and respect for shared history.
