Records of the West Africa Committee

The records are composed of: agenda, minutes and reports of quarterly London meetings, and special monthly reports on Ghana and Nigeria, 1962-1965. There is one report on Sierra Leone, April 1965.

The membership of the West Africa Committee numbered around 140, many of the individuals representing or having commercial interests in West Africa. Members included those firms with interests as diverse as: cement production, banking, footwear, oil, rubber, shipping, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, brewing, and foodstuffs. The Committee issued confidential reports on the state of affairs in various West African countries, including Nigeria and Ghana. There appeared to be a West African Trade Section too, and there were Council and Executive Committee meetings of the West Africa Committee. In 1963, these were held in Paris. London was the usual venue for meetings however. The West Africa Committee published an annual report.

The Index notes that the material is private and confidential.

Records acquired March 1966, Accession no. E66.17.

Important finding aids generally are: the alphabetical Index to Manuscripts held at Edinburgh University Library, Special Collections and Archives, consisting of typed slips in sheaf binders and to which additions were made until 1987; and the Index to Accessions Since 1987.

Check the local Indexes for details of any additions.