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Basic 6 · History · Political Development

How the Gold Coast Became a British Colony

In this topic you will describe the steps by which the Gold Coast came under British colonial rule from 1844 to 1902.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Explain the Bond of 1844
  • Describe how the Colony, Asante and the Northern Territories came under British rule
  • Explain how British Togoland joined the Gold Coast

What you already know

  • Assessing the European presence

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
Colonization & Development
Sub-strand
Political Development
Indicator
B6.4.4.1.1 – Describe the features of British colonial rule in Ghana including direct and indirect rule, 1874–1957

Introduction

Ghana did not become a British colony in a single day. Step by step, through treaties, wars and agreements, the British took control of the land between 1844 and 1902.

1. The Bond of 1844

On 6th March 1844, some Fante chiefs signed an agreement with the British called the Bond of 1844. The chiefs accepted British protection and allowed British courts to try serious crimes such as murder and robbery. The Bond did not give Britain ownership of the land, but it increased British influence on the coast.

2. The Gold Coast Colony (1874)

After the other Europeans (Danes in 1850 and Dutch in 1872) sold their forts to Britain, the British became the only European power on the coast. After defeating Asante in the war of 1874, Britain declared the coastal areas a British colony on 24th July 1874. The capital moved from Cape Coast to Accra in 1877.

3. Asante and the Northern Territories (1901–1902)

After the Yaa Asantewaa War of 1900, Britain annexed Asante as a crown colony in 1901. The lands north of Asante became the Northern Territories Protectorate, formally established in 1902 after treaties with chiefs and competition with France and Germany.

Steps to colonial rule
YearEvent
1844Bond of 1844 signed with Fante chiefs
1850Danes sold their forts to Britain
1872Dutch handed over their forts to Britain
1874Gold Coast Colony declared
1877capital moved from Cape Coast to Accra
1901Asante annexed
1902Northern Territories Protectorate established
1919/1922part of German Togoland placed under British mandate
1956British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast
A map of the Gold Coast showing the Colony, Asante, Northern Territories and British Togoland
Figure 1: The four parts of colonial Ghana Draw and label the four parts of colonial Ghana.Base map: NordNordWest, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

4. British Togoland

Togoland was a German colony. After Germany lost the First World War, part of it was placed under British administration by the League of Nations. In a plebiscite (referendum) held on 9th May 1956, the people of British Togoland voted to join the Gold Coast. This is why the Volta Region is part of Ghana today.

New words

colony
A territory ruled by another country.
Bond of 1844
An agreement between Fante chiefs and the British.
annex
To take control of a territory and add it to one's own.
protectorate
A territory protected and controlled by a stronger country.
mandate
Authority given to a country to govern a territory.
plebiscite
A vote by the people on an important question.

Summary

  • The Bond of 1844 increased British influence on the coast.
  • The Gold Coast Colony was declared in 1874.
  • Asante was annexed in 1901; the Northern Territories became a protectorate in 1902.
  • British Togoland joined the Gold Coast after the 1956 plebiscite.

Class activity: Colonial Timeline

  1. Make a timeline from 1844 to 1957 on manila paper.
  2. Add the key events from this lesson.
  3. Add a drawing for each event.

You need: Ghana map, Locally made colonial timeline cards, Printed photographs of Ghanaian chiefs, Colonial officials

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. The Bond of 1844 was signed with…

    • A. Fante chiefs
    • B. the Asantehene
    • C. the French
    • D. the Dutch
    Show answer
    Answer: Fante chiefsOn 6th March 1844.

  2. 2. The Gold Coast Colony was declared in…

    • A. 1874
    • B. 1844
    • C. 1901
    • D. 1957
    Show answer
    Answer: 1874On 24th July.

  3. 3. British Togoland joined the Gold Coast after a…

    • A. plebiscite in 1956
    • B. war in 1900
    • C. bond in 1844
    • D. treaty in 1482
    Show answer
    Answer: plebiscite in 1956People voted.

  4. 4. The capital moved from Cape Coast to Accra in 1877.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueAccra became the capital.

  5. 5. The Bond of 1844 gave Britain ownership of all land.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt gave protection and legal powers only.

  6. 6. A vote by the people on an important question is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: plebisciteReferendum.

  7. 7. Name the four parts that made up colonial Ghana.

    Show answer
    Answer: Gold Coast Colony, Asante, Northern Territories, British Togoland.Four areas.

  8. 8. Why is the 1956 plebiscite important to Ghana today?

    Show answer
    Answer: It brought British Togoland, now mostly the Volta Region and parts of the Oti and Northern areas, into Ghana.Shaped Ghana's borders.

Homework

  1. Draw a map of colonial Ghana and label its four parts with dates.