 With the Dutch possessions , the British took over all legal obligations including the existing treaties and contracts . After the transfer the British started to develop their own policies towards the now united Gold Coast possessions . Ahanta resisted the British take @-@ over , with the result that the British Royal Navy bombed Butre in 1873 to achieve a political submission . In 1874 Britain declared the entire Gold Coast – including Ahanta – a Crown Colony , de jure and de facto ending all former diplomatic and legal obligations . 
