Economy of the Asante Empire
[1] The Asante established different procedures for mobilizing state revenue and utilizing public finance.
[4] According to Ratray, the Omanhene obtained revenue through death duties, trade, court fees and fines as well as mining.
[5] All Paramount Chiefs and Sub-Chiefs possessed a local treasury in their jurisdiction which was managed under the auspices of the Sanaahene, the Royal Treasurer.
Atitodie which means "head price" was a fine paid by individuals pronounced liable to death sentence.
[8] In the early 19th century, 400,000 oz of gold dust at a value of £1.5 million at that time, was required to keep the Adaka Kesie full.
War taxes were based on the expenditure on guns and ammunition and they were shared among the divisions, sub-divisions, villages and lineages of the empire.
[10] The annual tribute was paid in gold, slaves, cattle, poultry, and native manufactured cloth.
[8] Conquered states at the Coast under Asante jurisdiction were responsible for collecting Notes from European traders at trading posts.
The possession of Notes enabled the king of Asante, on occasion, to secure credit for muskets and ammunition.
At the market towns on the northern trade routes, the Asante merchants exchanged kola nuts for salt and European goods for shea butter, livestock, cotton silk threads and cloths, metal locks, gold and slaves.
[1] Under Osei Kofi Tutu I, the Asante established commercial relations with European merchants at the coast following the victory over Denkyira in 1701.
[10] In the southern trade routes, the Asante sold gold, ivory, slaves and rubber in exchange for firearms, lead bars, gunpowder, drinks and salt.
[13] Historian Austin writes that Asante's main exports in the 19th century were kola nuts to the north, and gold at the south.
Ntonso was specialized in cloth-dyeing, Pankrono in pottery, Ahwiaa in wood working, Breman and Adum in goldsmithing and metalworking.
An example given by historian Edgerton is a mine that had a timber-shored tunnel 300 yards long and contained galleries where the gold was worked.
[15] Miners had to dig or chop Feldspar and granite in the mines but gunpowder could be used as explosives to blast hard rock.
[17] During the reign of Asantehene Osei Kwame Panyin (1777–1803), the sale of Asante citizens into slavery was banned.
He cites Asantehene Osei Bonsu's speech to Dupuis in 1820; I cannot make war to catch slaves in the bush, like a thief.
He also references Brodie Cruickshank, who wrote in 1853 that "The Ashantee wars are never undertaken expressly to supply this demand.
[19] Some historians such as Reid and Dalrymple-Smith have commented that the Asante economy did not depend on the Atlantic slave trade.
"[23] From the 17th century, the Asante economy revolved around the rural production of staple crops which was supplemented by hunting.
Both Bowdich and Dupuis noted the existence of large fenced yam fields which were planted in rectangular lines.
"[28] Certain farms such as Kola plantations were established with the exclusive aim of generating revenue for into the chief's treasury.
[5] Crops that were cultivated in the empire included plantains, yams, manioc, corn, peanuts and tomatoes.
