Ashanti, the most powerful state of the Akan interior during most of the nineteenth century, seeks to expand its rule and to promote and protect its trade.

The first Ashanti invasion of the coastal regions takes place in 1807; the Ashanti move south again in 1811 and in 1814.

These invasions, though not decisive, disrupt  trade in such products as gold, timber, and palm oil, and threaten the security of the European forts.

Local British, Dutch, and Danish authorities are all forced to come to terms with Ashanti, and in 1817 the African Company of Merchants signs a treaty of friendship that recognizes Ashanti claims to sovereignty over large areas of the coast and its peoples. 

The coastal people, primarily some of the Fante and the inhabitants of the new town of Accra, who are chiefly Ga, come to rely on British protection against Ashanti incursions, but the ability of the merchant companies to provide this security is limited.

The British Crown dissolves the company in 1821, giving authority over British forts on the Gold Coast to Governor Charles MacCarthy, governor of Sierra Leone.

The British forts and Sierra Leone will remain under common administration for the first half of the century.

MacCarthy's mandate is to impose peace and to end the slave trade.

He seeks to do this by encouraging the coastal peoples to oppose Kumasi rule and by closing the great roads to the coast.

Incidents and sporadic warfare continues, however.

MacCarthy is killed, and most of his force is wiped out in a battle with Ashanti forces in 1824.

An Ashanti invasion of the coast in 1826 is defeated, nonetheless, by British and local forces, including the Fante and the people of Accra.

When the British government allows control of the Gold Coast settlements to revert to the British African Company of Merchants in the late 1820s, relations with Ashanti are still problematic.

From the Ashanti point of view, the British have failed to control the activities of their local coastal allies.

Had this been done, Ashanti might not have found it necessary to attempt to impose peace on the coastal peoples.

MacCarthy's encouragement of coastal opposition to Ashanti and the subsequent 1824 British military attack further indicate to Ashanti authorities that the Europeans, especially the British, do not respect Ashanti.