In the second half of 1868, missionary activity focusing on freeing palace-owned slaves resulted in rising political strain between the chief and Basel missionaries. As slaves became liberated, baptised and educated, Amoako Atta felt that his authority was being undermined by the Basel Mission, as new Christians lived in their own quarters called Salem. Furthermore, Amoako Atta I, his sister, Kyerewaa and, the Okyehene's mother, Ampofoaa, other royal courtiers and traditional state functionaries opposed the conversion of domestic slaves to Christianity and the abolition of local slavery as they viewed the practice as a wealth generator for influence peddling.
