This week in history: People of Accra defeat Ashantis in Katamanso War
- On August 7, 1826, the Ashantis were defeated by the people of Accra in the infamous Katamanso War on the Gold Coast
- The war was initiated by the then Asantehene, Nana Osei Yaw Akoto, with 40,000 men in retaliation over a previous defeat he suffered
- The chiefs in and around Accra came together and were able to stop the Ashantis at Katamanso
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Exactly 194 years ago, on August 7, 1826, the Katamanso War, which is also known as the battle of Dodowa, took place at the then Gold Coast (present-day Ghana).
According to a report by Ghanaianmuseum.com and sighted by YEN.com.gh, the Battle of Dodowa saw the people of Accra defeat the people of Asante although the Ashantis initiated the battle.
The war was fought between the Ashantis and the people of Accra, Dangme people of Prampram, Ningo as well as Ada.
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Source: UGC
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According to the report by ghanaianmuseum.com, prior to the Katamanso War the people of Accra, then spelt Akra, had been part of an alliance of local chiefs who had aided the British, Denkyira, and Fantis in resisting an Asante attack on Cape Coast in July 1824.
Asantehene, Nana Osei Yaw Akoto, who ruled the Ashantis, decided to retaliate and amassed an army of 40,000 with a vow to punish the people of Accra in the aftermath of this defeat.
However, an alliance of British, along with Ga-Adangbe, Fanti, Denkyira, Akwamu, and Akyems faced the Asante at Katamanso and ended Asante suzerainty over many southern and coastal nations and contributed to the rise of British power and prestige on the coast.
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In another historic event, on February 24, 1996, the then president of Ghana, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, was overthrown in a coup led by Colonel E.K. Kotoka, Major A.A. Afrifa, Lieutenant General J.A. Ankra, and Police Inspector General J.W.K. Harlley.
Nkrumah was out of the country at the time his government was overthrown by the people he least suspected to have had any ill thoughts concerning him.
When the coup happened and reality dawned on Nkrumah that his government had ended, the first president of Ghana reminisced on the whole event and wrote down very emotional words in his book, Dark Days in Ghana.
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Source: YEN.com.gh
