Let’s Talk About Asantehene Prempeh I.
Today, 10th May 2023, the president of Ghana, Nana Akufo-Addo Commissioned the renovated Kumasi Airport and renamed it ‘Nana Agyemang Prempeh I International Airport’, honoring the legacy of a once-exiled king whose story is woven with defiance and resilience.
Asantehene Prempeh I, the 13th monarch of the Ashanti Empire of the Gold Coast, faced a tumultuous reign amidst British annexation and invasion. His story is one of resilience and eventual return, marked by exile in Seychelles for 24 years over 50,000 ounces of gold.
Born Prince Kwaku Dua Asamu III, Prempeh I ascended the throne at around age 16, taking the name Prempeh I of the Kingdom of Ashanti. His reign coincided with British expansion in the Gold Coast, leading to a challenging period for the Ashanti Empire.
The Ashanti Empire, also known as Asanteman, was a formidable Akan empire that spanned two centuries, from 1701 to 1901, in present-day Ghana. It expanded its territory to include regions beyond the Ashanti Region, engaging in conflicts with the British Empire to protect its sovereignty.
Between 1824 and 1900, the Ashanti Empire and the British Empire fought five wars, culminating in the formal establishment of British rule over the Gold Coast. The British, with superior weaponry, defeated the Ashanti and demanded an indemnity of 50,000 ounces of gold, known as the Wolseley expedition.
Despite attempts by Prempeh I to negotiate with the British, including dispatching a delegation to London, the British administration remained resolute in their demands. In 1896, British forces under Robert Baden-Powell took Prempeh I and his chiefs into custody, leading to his exile first in Elmina and then in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and ultimately in Seychelles.
After 24 years in exile, Prempeh I returned to Kumasi as a civilian. The British, to appease the Ashanti, conferred upon him the rank of Kumasehene in 1926. Prempeh I passed away in 1931, leaving a legacy of resilience and determination in the face of colonial dominance.
The exile of Asantehene Prempeh I to Seychelles stands as a testament to the complex history of colonialism in Africa. His story reflects the struggle for power, the clash of cultures, and the enduring spirit of a people striving for freedom and sovereignty.