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The Story of ‘The Impossible Gang’ in (Colonial) Ghana.

Thank you, Sir; 12 months in Prison is not sufficient for me! – Kwamin (A member of the Impossible Gang)

In the late 1920s and early 1930s, notorious gangs arose in most urban centres in Ghana, then the Gold Coast. These gangs were known burglars and pickpockets. These gangs gained fame and made most people visiting or migrating to these urban centres extra cautious as they were terrified by their existence. One of the most popular of these gangs was the ‘Impossible Gang’. The Impossible gang was a gang of young men who were mostly pickpockets.

The increasing rural-urban migration during the colonial period had brought many people into urban centres, particularly Accra, the capital of the Gold Coast. These migrants were from all corners of this country. This increasing population in various urban centres births too many social vices, such as pickpocketing. These pickpockets took delight in this newly found profession and were ready to bear the consequences without fear or malice. The luxury of urban lifestyle inspired many young men and women to develop a greedy desire to make wealth to enjoy urban life.

According to the Vox Populi, a famous newspaper in the 1930s, one of the known members of a group of despicable rascals, the ‘Impossible Gang’ was arrested and brought before a Magistrate to answer to a charge of pickpocketing £2. During his trial, he said something that caused those present to laugh uncontrollably and also caused critical minds to access the problems born in these new urban centres.

Kwamin, a Housa Youngman and an ‘Impossible Gang’ member was brought before the bench; he immediately pleaded guilty to the charge and cheekily expressed his gratitude for being before the bench. The police immediately got five previous convictions against Kwamin. Before the Magistrate could speak, Kwamin pleaded to the Magistrate to be given more years to learn a trade in Prison. Since he cannot stop stealing from people. Kwamin’s words did not surprise the public gallery as he was a known thief.

The Magistrate sentenced Kwamin to 12 months in Prison with hard labour. The Magistrate then pleaded that he could not do more than this for Kwamin. The prisoner then shouted frankly; I will be back immediately I complete my sentence!

The court could not help but laugh.

Written By

Stephen Baidoo is a writer who loves to research about Ghana's past. He brings Ghana's history to life with each unearthed fact and forgotten narrative, transforming dry dates into passionate stories.

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