In Dutch, Batenstein literally translates to “profit fort.” Fort Batenstine was built by the Dutch West India Company, not because of promising trade opportunities in the area, The Fort was built in 1656, it had several forts to the west like Metal Cross in Dixcove, Fredericksburg in Prince’ Town and St George in Elmina to the east. It is located in Ghana’s Western Region, behind Butre settlement. It was captured by the British in 1665, abandoned in 1818-27, rebuilt by the Dutch in 1828, relinquished by treaty, and remained in Dutch hands until 1872, when it was handed over to the British.
Badu Bonso, the revered king of the Ahanta people then lived and had his palace. Its location is only a walking distance from Owusua (Busua). “He was a dreaded fighter, and no one knew the source of his fighting spirit,” This fort holds a special place in my heart. It’s like a child who didn’t meet his father and is told this is where your father was killed…that is how I feel anytime I come here,” According to Dutch records, it was inside Fort St Batenstein, in August ….. where Badu Bonso was killed. There’s no documented account of how he died but Ghanaian oral tradition claims he took his own life.
Before that, he had killed hundreds of Dutch soldiers in several battles for the heart and soul of the then west coast. “The Dutch had signed a treaty in 1656 with the Ahanta people to colonize them for the ensuing 200 years. Within that time, they were free to trade in slaves. After the treaty ended in 1856, the Dutch still wanted to continue their rule. Badu Bonso stood up against that,” says Daniel Kwofie who has studied many accounts of this history extensively.
News of Badu Bonso’s notoriety for killing Dutch officers in Gold Coast had gone all the way to the royal family in in the Netherlands at the time and that was the single most potent threat to the Dutch project in West Africa at the time. Several historical accounts say a deliberate plot to kill him and have his head brought to Holland was hatched from the highest level of Dutch government then. “We are told that Badu Bonso was betrayed by his own sub-chiefs who had been bribed to give up the source of prowess of their king then. That led to his capture and beheading in 1838,” Badu Bonso’s last straw that broke the camel’s back was when he killed Tonneboeyer, then Dutch Governor stationed in Elmina.
Several accounts including those from Holland say Tonneboeyer was a young rascal whose impetuous acts caused much trouble, in Elmina itself and with some neighboring states as well. “He walked into a trap set by Bonsu’s men on Takoradi beach. In reprisal, the Dutch sent a military expedition to the Gold Coast. There was no battle, as the Ahanta handed Bonsu over for a reward of 10 ounces of gold. After a rather summary trial, Bonsu was sentenced to death and hanged.
A sad moment after his execution, his head was cut off and taken to the Netherlands, to the Anatomy Museum in Leiden,” says Dr. Ineke Van Kessel, Dutch Historian and journalist. After nearly 200 years, the head of Badu Bonso was returned to Ghana in 2009 after Ex-President John Kuffour had begged for it two years earlier.
Ahanta chiefs over what should happen to the head has left the head locked up at the 37 Military Hospital where it was first deposited upon return.
“I want to rewrite this history. A story which also depicts our anthem in our native language, where our forefathers toiled to gain independence for our country. May his soul rest in peace.” This fort is an interesting for to visit just to get more insight and have a feel of history.
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(1) Yaw Pare Photography (@yawparephoto) / Twitter [Yaw Pare (@yaw_pare) • Instagram photos and video]
