Who Am I?
I am HRH Princess Barbara Vandross of Akwamu, heir to the Yaa Ansaa Royal Family - descendants of a proud dynasty whose sovereignty, dignity, and lands were taken under a broken promise that has haunted us for generations.
For 139 years, my family and the people of Akwamu have carried the burden of that betrayal — a treaty signed but never honored, a nation silenced but never forgotten.
The Story of a Broken Promise
In 1886, the British Crown signed the Akwamu (Aquamoo) Treaty with our ancestors. By law, it required ratification by Queen Victoria within twelve months.
That ratification never came.
Instead, Akwamu was unlawfully absorbed into the Gold Coast Colony, our lands seized, our authority dismantled, and our people displaced. The rightful royal line — my family — was stripped of its voice, and a rival regent was imposed to legitimize a false claim of annexation. For generations, we have sought answers. For generations, none came. But now, the truth is no longer buried. A Parliamentary Question (PQ UID 23506), tabled in January 2025, officially confirmed what our ancestors always knew - there is no record of ratification. The Akwamu Treaty was never made lawful.
It means that Akwamu was never truly ceded. Never surrendered. Never lost — only taken.
This is not just about the past. It's about justice. It's about
accountability. It's about the right of a people to exist, to be heard, and to be recognized.
Our Mission
We are raising funds to take this historic case to the UK courts and, if necessary, to the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
Our goals are clear and just:
• To prove the unlawful nature of Akwamu's annexation.
• To seek restoration of sovereign rights, or fair compensation at
current market value for the lands, natural resources, and wealth
taken across modern-day Ghana, Togo, and Benin.
To set a global precedent — so that no unratified treaty or colonial
Injustice can ever again be swept under history's rug.
·
For the Yaa Ansaa Royal Family, this is more than a legal fight — it is a sacred duty to those who came before us and those who will come after.
The Next Steps
Our legal team will:
1. File a Pre-Action Protocol Letter to the UK Government demanding
disclosure, dialogue, and redress.
2. Gather and present evidence — including the Parliamentary
confirmation, historical affidavits, and expert testimony.
3. File proceedings before the High Court in London.
4. If unresolved, escalate the case to the International Court of
Justice (ICJ).
This is a long road, but one we are ready to walk — with truth, dignity, and unity on our side.
How Funds Will Be Used
We are initially seeking £50,000 to cover the first phase of this legal battle, including:
• Legal counsel & representation in the UK
• Preparation of historical evidence and expert reports
• Court filing fees and documentation
• Travel and administrative costs for international coordination
As the case progresses toward the ICJ, we will need to build a larger fund for expanded legal, historical, and diplomatic efforts.
Every contribution — no matter how small - brings us one step closer
to justice. Every pound, every share, every kind word is part of rewriting history.
Why Your Support Matters
This is not just a fight for Akwamu.
This is a fight for every nation whose truth was erased, every
community whose land was taken, and every family whose legacy was stolen by the silence of empire.
By supporting this campaign, you are helping to restore dignity to a
people and hold power to account after 139 years of injustice. No act of support is too small — £5, £10, a share, or a signature each one is a seed of justice that grows into change.
Thank You
On behalf of the Yaa Ansaa Royal Family, the Akwamu people, and generations who dreamed of this moment, we thank you deeply. Your support is not only financial — it is moral, spiritual, and historic.
It tells the world that truth still matters, that history can be corrected, and that justice delayed will not be justice denied.
Please donate, share, and sign our petition at
Together, we can turn 139 years of silence into a chorus for justice.
#JusticeForAkwamu
#QueenVictoriaSaidNO
#EndColonialSilence
Organizer
