British influence over the Gold Coast increases further in 1872 when Britain purchase Elmina Castle, the last of the Dutch forts along the coast.

The Asante, who for years have considered the Dutch at Elmina as their allies, hereby lose their last trade outlet to the sea.

To prevent this loss and to ensure that revenue received from that post continues, the Asante stage their last invasion of the coast in 1873.

After early successes, they finally come up against well-trained British forces who compel hem to retreat beyond the Pra River.

Later attempts to negotiate a settlement of the conflict with the British are rejected by the commander of their forces, Major General Sir Garnet Wolseley.

To settle the Asante problem permanently, the British invade Asante with a sizable military force.

The attack, which is launched in January 1874 by twenty-five hundred British soldiers and large numbers of African auxiliaries, results in the occupation and burning of Kumasi, the Asante capital.