Request
I would like to know if these files are available to study. If they are not available to consult, I would like to have access to any information you hold that explains why not, including (if applicable) the date and reason for the files’ destruction. The three files were created in the UK by the Colonial Office:
WAF317/50/01 – ‘Public Archives Legislation Gold Coast’ (1954-6)
WAF16/2/03 – ‘Arrangements for the Handling and Disposal of Correspondence with the Gold Coast Government’ (1954-6)
WA10/244/1 – ‘Question of Transfer or Destruction of Classified Documents held by the Governor General on Ghana’s Independence’ (1960-63)
These files are referenced in the National Archives file FCO 141/19888, and were apparently available for Foreign Office officials to consult in 1981. Searches on the National Archives catalogue suggest they are not currently available to readers at Kew.
Outcome
No information held.
Response
The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and its predecessor bodies create the descriptions that are displayed on The National Archives catalogue, Discovery. These descriptions include the title and former reference (where known) of the individual record, at file level when the department selected the files for permanent preservation. The National Archives catalogue, Discovery, uses the information provided by the transferring departments when describing the content of transferred records.
Using the search terms provided, there are no records listed on Discovery for these three file titles or the document references formerly used by the transferring-department.
However, we are able to advise that records in the WAF series were transferred into TNA series CO 554 – ‘Colonial Office: West Africa Original Correspondence’ and records in the WA series were transferred into TNA series DO 195 – ‘Commonwealth Relations Office and Commonwealth Office: West and General Africa Department and successors: Registered Files (WA Series)’.
Under section 3 of the Public Records Act 1958, it is the responsibility of each government department, in this case the FCDO, to appraise and select records for permanent preservation to be transferred to The National Archives or an approved place of deposit within 20 years (formerly 30 years). It may be the case that the FCDO hold additional information relating to the document references that you have listed in your request, and you may wish to redirect your enquiry there.