Causes and Effects of the Bond of 1844

The Bond of 1844 was an agreement signed between the Fante Chiefs and the British government. It was signed on 6th March,1844 at Palava Hall,Cape Coast.

It specified a relationship between the British and the Local chiefs,who were the main parties in the the treaty.The British viewed the agreement as an understanding to take part in the colonial administration of justice and the enforcement at their laws in the local states, but the local leaders saw the agreement as a military and defence contract only.

List of the chiefs that sign the Bond with Commander Hill were ;

1.Kwadwo Tsibu King of Denkyira

2.Kwasi Other, chief of Abra

3.Tsibu Kuma of Assin

4.Gyebi second Chief of Assin

5.Kwasi Ankrah

6.Ewusi chief of Dominase

7.Amonoo chief of Anomabo

8.Joseph Aggrey of Cape Coast.

In the same year, Ten other rulers sign the agreement. They were chiefs of Twifo,Akumfi ,Akumako,Gomoa,Asikuma,Nsabaa,Wassa Amenfi,Disxcove,Wassa Fiase and James Town

Here are some of the things that led to the signing of the Bond

1.Asante Attacks: The Asante attacks the Southern states led to the signing of the bond.The southern states wanted the British Colonial administration to protect them against the Asante attacks. The attacks in their attempts to make way to the coast to have direct trade with the Europeans often attacks the Southern states who prevented them from having direct contact with the Europeans who settled along the coast.

2.Also the the British also wanted to make their relationships with the people of Gold Coast official.For this reason, Commander Hill was appointed the Governor and MacLean made a judge in the British administration to help the coastal States settle their dispute ans the cases.

TERMS OF THE BOND

1.To stop wicked practices.The local people were to stop all wicked practices such as human sacrifice and slavery.

2. To Bring Criminal cases to Justice:All criminal cases such as murder and robbery were to be tried in courts set up an made up of British justice and local leaders.

3.To Protect the Southern people against the Asante attacks and maintain justice among the coastal States that signed the Bond.

REASONS WHY THE BOND WAS SIGNED

1.To end bad practices

2.To use British Law

3.Colonial rule:The British wanted to find to rule The people of the Gold Coast

4.Protection from attacks

EFFECTS OF THE BOND

The Bond of 1844 created an atmosphere of peace by uniting ethnic groups in southern states of the Gold Coast.

The Bond ended some improper practices such as human sacrifice

The Bond encouraged the British to provide basic social amenities such as schools, hospitals and roads for the local people.

This develop close relationship between the British and the southern states