Today in History: Kobena Gyan protested against the British

On December 19, 1870, Kobena Gyan, King of Elimina protested against the decision taken by the British to take the Elimina Castle.

Kobena Gyan was born in Elimina in the year 1821.

During the tenure of his father as King of Elimina, he served as a spokesperson for the people of Elimina.

He partnered with some other chiefs to send a petition to King William III, monarch of the Netherlands for aid as a result of Dutch Convention for interchanging of the territories of Elimina to the British.

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Kobena Gyan succeeded his father after his father was distooled for not opposing the activities of the Dutch towards the siege of the Elimina.

Kobena Gyan became very popular because of his protests against the British in the Elimina.

He did not accept any types of measures suggested by the Europeans to rule the people of Elimina and the coastal states.

The British put a lot of pressure on the Dutch to leave the King of Ashanti’s missions to rid the Elimina from Ashanti powers and to make it a Fanti territory.

Kobena Gyan stood up to question the Europeans to hand over African lands to themselves to be ruled.

The people of Elimina started to oppose the will and objectives of the colonial government and this delay the forthcoming introduction of new culture and taxes system to the people of Elimina.

The British forced Dutch to leave the shores of Elimina, but powerful King Kobena Gyan continue to take hard decision and informed the newly Gold Coast Governor about the decisions of the British to claim ownership of the castle.

On December 19, 1870, he explained to Governor Ferguson of Gold Coast that there is rumor that the Dutch government intends to sell the colony to the British.

He told the the Governor that people of Elimina are not slaves and do not want to see any other flag on the fort.

He voiced out his displeasure to the Dutch officials.

Kobena Gyan believed that the Dutch disrespected him by not consulting the elders of Elimina before they started building castles on their land.

He refused to abide by any will of the Europeans and rejected the large sum amount from the British to allow transfer of the castle to the British.

Kobena Gyan was arrested after protesting against the British and was sent to exile in Sierra Leone without any tangible charges.

He returned to Elimina after twenty-one years in the condition that he would be regarded as a private citizen.

He died on 12th March 1896 and was buried at Dutch cemetery in  Elimina