Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg

Guggisberg, Sir Frederick Gordon

Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg, soldier, governor (b at Galt, Ont 20 July 1869; d at Bexhill, Eng 21 Apr 1930). Commissioned in the Royal Engineers in 1889, he served first in Singapore, then at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, and as a surveyor in West Africa 1902-14. After distinguishing himself in WWI, he was governor of the Gold Coast (Ghana) 1919-27, where he implemented a 10-year development plan to provide an economic and social infrastructure. He constructed a harbour, college and hospital, improved transportation and encouraged agriculture. He pushed for African advancement in the colonial service, but conceded little to national political demands. He later served as governor of British Guiana. Gold Coast chiefs placed a memorial over his grave, and in 1974 Ghana erected a statue of him in the capital city of Accra.