after arriving in elmina in december 1840, pel was appointed commandant of fort orange in sekondi on 13 april 1841. this was followed on 4 january 1842 by an appointment as head of the recruitment depot for soldiers of the netherlands east indies army in kumasi, relieving jacob huydecoper. both temminck and pel himself had actively lobbied for pel to get this appointment, as that would mean the only opportunity for pel to gather specimens in the gold coast interior. pel was recalled to elmina on 7 february 1842, however, as the government stopped the recruitment of soldiers due to british objections. pel had not been able to gather specimens, but did publish an account of his journey to kumasi.