United Kingdom buys Dutch forts on the Gold Coast

Background. By the late 1850s, British authorities viewed the presence of Dutch forts in an increasingly British-influenced area as undesirable. In 1867, a convention exchanged forts to create contiguous zones of influence, but this arrangement proved disastrous for the Dutch. Their alliance with the Ashanti Empire clashed with the Fante populations in the newly assigned forts, creating instability that necessitated a complete buyout of the Dutch possessions.

Negotiation and Treaty. Following the failure of the 1867 exchange, British pressure for a buyout continued. In February 1871, a treaty was signed stipulating that the entire Dutch colony would be ceded to the United Kingdom for 46,939.62 Dutch guilders. This agreement was ratified by parliament, leading to the formal handover of Elmina in April 1872.

Local Conflict Context. The transfer occurred amidst significant local tension. The Ashanti army maintained an uncompromising stance against their Fante rivals, complicating the position of the forts transferred to the Dutch. In April 1871, an Ashanti army present in the town arrested Nagtglas for a short while, illustrating the instability surrounding the Dutch possessions at the time of the cession negotiations.