Introduction
I have been very much intrigued by the significant contributions made by the Euro-African community in the Gold Coast towards our democracy and independence. This community played a vital role in shaping the socio-economic and political fabric of the country we now cherish as our motherland. Among these influential figures was Henry van Hien, a notable merchant, politician, and nationalist leader.
Early Life and Education
Henry van Hien was born in Elmina to Carel Hendrik David van Hien (1833–1864), a government official and Acting Governor of the Dutch Gold Coast, and Elizabeth Essuman (ca. 1839–1930), sister of Willem Essuman Pietersen. He was educated at the Cape Coast Government School and, according to family tradition, pursued further education in the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. This was a common practice among the Euro-African elite in Cape Coast and Elmina.
Professional Career
Upon returning to the Gold Coast in 1878, van Hien began working as an agent for F. & A. Swanzy in Shama, and later for Alexander Miller Bros. in Accra and Winneba. He eventually became a partner in his uncle Willem Essuman Pietersen's firm in Cape Coast, managing it after his uncle’s death in 1914. In his later years, he was based in Accra.
Political Contributions
In 1923, van Hien joined the Cape Coast Chamber of Commerce. The following year, he was installed as a temporary unofficial member of the Gold Coast Legislative Council. From 1925 to 1927, he served as an extraordinary member of the Legislative Council and later as a member of the Cape Coast Town Council.
Van Hien was also a key figure in the Aborigines’ Rights Protection Society, serving as its president. He was a founder and president of the National Congress of British West Africa, a significant organization advocating for the rights and autonomy of the West African people.
Educational Advocacy
Henry van Hien was a passionate advocate for education. He actively promoted the establishment of educational institutions in Cape Coast. He co-founded Achimota College and founded St. Monica’s School, leaving a lasting legacy in the field of education.
Personal Life
Van Hien married Marian Victoria Plange. Throughout his life, he was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist Church and served as Chancellor of the Anglican Church in Cape Coast. He was also a freemason. Although van Hien and Plange did not have children, his legacy lived on through his cousin and heir, Kobina Sekyi.
Henry van Hien died on July 4, 1928, of cerebral hemorrhage and was buried in either the Sekondi Road Cemetery or the Anglican Cemetery in Cape Coast.
Conclusion
The contributions of the Euro-African community, exemplified by figures like Henry van Hien, have been instrumental in the development of our nation’s democracy and independence. Their influence extends beyond politics, touching on socio-economic and educational advancements that continue to shape our country today.
Op-ed by:
Derrick Kojo Nyamedi
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