when elmina was finally transferred to the british on 6 april, the british governor of the gold coast john pope hennessy appointed eminsang civil commandant, collector of customs, postmaster and deputy superintendent of police. as it appeared that eminsang was rewarded for his sudden change of opinion, many elminese grew angry with the situation. on 26 april, people from various "asafo" wards, mainly numbers 6, 7 and 8, marched with muskets, knives and dutch flags to eminsang's house, where a meeting was held between the regularisation committee and colonel de haes, the dutch military officer who had been entrusted with effecting the transfer of sovereignty. an altercation followed on the streets and eventually shots were fired, which hit j. m. c. w. joost, who died of his wounds the next day.