Which of the following policies was replaced by the French Policy of Association?

Analyze the question: It asks which earlier French colonial policy was replaced by the Policy of Association.

Explain the concept:

• Assimilation was France's original colonial policy in West Africa. It aimed to turn Africans into "Frenchmen" by teaching them French language, culture, laws and institutions. Those who were assimilated could become French citizens. It was applied most notably in the Four Communes of Senegal (Dakar, Saint-Louis, Gorée, Rufisque).
• Association came later, around the late 19th and early 20th centuries. France saw that assimilation was too costly, impractical and widely resisted. Association allowed Africans to keep their own culture, institutions and traditional rulers, while cooperating with France under French overall control. It was similar in practice to British indirect rule.

Step-by-step solution:

1. Apartheid was South Africa's racial segregation policy. It has nothing to do with French colonial rule, so A is out.
2. Indirect rule was the British policy, associated with Lord Lugard. It is not a French policy, so C is out.
3. Frenchification is essentially another word for assimilation. It is not the standard term used in WASSCE for the policy that was replaced, so D is not the best answer.
4. Assimilation was the policy France abandoned in favour of Association, so B is correct.

Answer: B. Assimilation

Exam tip: Remember the order A → A: Assimilation came first, then Association. Also remember that Association is the French version of the British Indirect rule, and that is a common WASSCE comparison question.