Throughout the 18th century the re many wars between the Asante and Fante.  These wars were between 1727-1776.

Access to the coastal trade:  Asante empire being an inland state wanted direct trade with the European merchants at the coast.  The Fante being middlemen were denying them this chance.

To ensure regular supply of arms:  The Asante wanted to acquire fire arms regularly through port Elmina.  However the Fante were against the idea and instead assisted the people of port Elmina to resist Asante which resulted into wars.

The Fante were dishonest in their trade dealings:  Being middlemen between the Asante and Europeans, the Asante were unreliable for example they wanted to destroy Asante's gold market by mixing gold from Asante with other base metals.  It is this dishonesty that brought the  two states to war.

The Fante policy of supporting the Denkyira were a hostile tribe and a traditional enemy for the Asante for a long period. Therefore the support given to the Denkyira by the Fante as a result all Fante chiefs assembled in 1868 at Mankessin to protest against the Anglo-Dutch exchange of Elmina.

The imprisonment of king John Aggrey.  He had openly opposed the British intervention in the Fante local matters.  He was arrested and deported by the British.  Therefore the Fante formed a confederation to bring an end to British interference in its internal affairs and also secure the release of king Aggrey.

British arrogance and racial superiority:  The British had named the tribes of the gold coast as one of the uncivilized and baberic people.  The Fante could not tolerate this.  This led to the coastal chiefs meeting at Mankessin.

The educated Africans and chiefs were being side lined by the British administration.  Therefore this group wanted to regain control of their own affairs which was being threatened by the British.

Another reason for the formation of the confederation was to improve on the infrastructure, built schools, roads, improve on agriculture and exploit the minerals resources in the area.

The Fante also wanted to regain and maintain the profitable middlemen role in the coastal trade between the Asante and Fante.

Achievements of the confederation.

Despite the difficulties, the Fante confederation made some remarkable achievements.

Independence of the coastal states: It declared the Fante states independent from the British in 1868. It also condemned their interference in their internal affaires. In fact the confederation has been described by many African nationalists as the first nationalistic movement in modern Ghana.

Formed a confederation army:  The army had 1500 strong men, it was able to defend the Fante states against the British and the Asante threats.

They improved physical and social infrastructure for example road construction and building of schools was improved .Generally there was constitutionalism and democracy in Ghana.

An administration mercenary: This was set up for the Fante states in 1869. The confederation officials were responsible for the administration and defence matters of the various districts of the confederation.

A national supreme court : This was established in 1868. The court settled disputes and causes from different states and districts.  There is evidence to show that the cases refereed to this court were solved successfully.

Promoted friendly relations: This united the Fante chiefs and increased their cooperation. In fact this strengthened Ghana's nationalism and subsequence demand for industry from the British.

Imposed taxes:  These were he import and export, poll and  salt tax.  The revenue collected was deposited in the confederation treasury.  By 1869, the confederation was in a healthy financial state.

OSEI BONSU (1801-1824)

He along side Osei Tutu and Opuka Ware were probably the greatest kings of Asante empire.  Osei Bonsu enstooled at the start of the 19th century and he alongside having many set aims also took Opuku ware and Osei tutu as his mentors in all that he did.  While in power he planned to create a policy by which he would use for the betterment of Asante.

Evidently, he tried to maintain the centrally reforms his predecessor had begun.  The reforms existed in form of empowerment of the Asantehene, change of hereditary officers or stools of Kumasi division acquired basing on ability and talent other than inheritance.  Also it is  important o note that he created more stools in the empire such as the Ankobia stool in ministry of foreign affairs and the Gyasewa stool or ministry of economic affairs, this increased the coordination in the empire as well as gave employment to literate moslems.

Bonsu's second policy was to maintain the empire he had inherited to preserve and protect its customs and identity.  However, inspite of the improvement in the provincial administration rebellions and revolts which were his stumbling block in achieving this, persisted. At the time of Bonsu's assession, the northern tribes of Gonja and Gyaman against Abron in the north west revolted.  In 1806 the Assin  defied the Asantehene by killing his messengers and seeking refuge in Fante. In 1811 the Akyem Akwapan, 1817 Gyaman against Wasa and Denkyira and the Assin in 1823.

As part of the fulfillment of his ambitious to rule the whole court by the end of 1824 he had suppressed all the existing rebellions.  He annexed a hitherto independent Fante confederation thus reconquering the Fante.  In fact by the time of his death after news of triumph against the combined forces of Wassa, Denkyira, Fante and Britain he had rid Ashantic of all its problems.

THE COLLAPSE OF THE CONFEDERATION.

Having been formed in 1868 at Mankessin it was no more by 1873.  What then led to the collapse of this confederation.

The nature of the confederation:  Initially, it was formed with a view of creating a strong defence against their hostile neighbor the Asante and the Akyem.  However Asante was declining due to its internal conflicts and rivalries.  Therefore  the confederation lost the base on which it had been formed.

Rivalry between the kings of Aora and Mankessim:  The conflicts between the two started during even the actual meeting.  The rivalry continued even  after 1868 which weakened the confederation.

Weakness of the confederation army:  This is evidenced by the fact that the army failed to assist Wassa against the Dutch invasion /aggression.  Therefore the army was finally dissolved in 1871.

Lack of resources:  There was not enough finances to implement confederation programmes.  Finally this led to the collapse of the confederation.

British interference and sabotage:  Right from the start, the British were opposed to the formation of the Fante confederation in 1867.  They even arrested the leaders of the confederation in 1871 who were imprisoned though they were later released, shortly after their arrest, shortly undermined and weakened the confederation.  Thus with pressure from Britain and  shortly after their arrest internal rivalries within the confederation, it finally collapsed in 1872.