May 4, 1894: George Ekem Ferguson signs the first Treaty of Friendship between the British and the Wala

On May 4, 1894 George Ekem Ferguson signed a treaty of friendship and trade with Wa Na Saidu Takora and the country of Dagarti otherwise known as Dagaba, was there by regarded as within the British sphere of influence. A year later or most of the day, the same Wa Na signed a treaty of protection with Lieutenant Baud representing the French government. The British reasserted and strengthened their claims to the “Country of Dagarti” By a treaty of friendship and protection on January 9, 1897. The principals were Lieutenant F.B. Henderson and Na Saidu. On 12 June 1897, however Na Saidu entered into yet another treaty with Captain Hugot, representing French interests. After a flurry of diplomatic activity and military posturing such us to make an armed engagement between French and British troops seem inevitable of the end of 1897, the French finally abandoned their claims to Wa. These territories became part of an ill defined British military command known as the Northern Territories of the Gold Coast. These territories were formally constituted a protectorate by an Order of Council on September 26, 1901, which placed them under the jurisdiction of the government of the Gold Coast Colony. The Wala had lost their independence.