The Story of an African Working Class: Ghanaian Miners’ Struggles 1870-1980

This seminal work tells the story of Ghana’s gold miners, one of the oldest and most militant groups of workers in Africa. It is a story of struggle against exploitative mining companies, repressive governments and authoritarian trade union leaders.

Drawing on a wide range of original sources, including previously secret government and company records, Jeff Crisp explores the changing nature of life and work in the gold mines, from the colonial era into the 1980s, and examines the distinctive forms of political consciousness and organization which the miners developed. The study also provides a detailed account of the changing techniques of labour control employed by mining capital and the state, and shows how they failed to curb the workers’ solidarity and tradition of militant resistance.

Combining lively historical narrative with original analysis, this book remains a unique contribution to the history of Africa and its working class.