At the beginning of the twenty centuru, all the four independent commonwealth states of West Africa (Ghana,Nigeri,Sierra Leone, and Gambia) were all the British territories.
These territories and the different parts these territories,might have different relationships with the British Government, depending upon how the British control had been established in the area.Some areas such as Lagos, Ashanti,and the area surrounding Freetown, and the area surrounding Bathurst,were colonies.
In other words,the areas were acquired by the British in West Africa either by cession, settlement or conquest were called Crown Colonies.The remaining areas were Protectorates.that is, territories whose tradition rulers had by treaty surrendered certain of their rights of government to the British,while still retaining their unceded rights and ownership of the land.Some people agree that colonies represented the lands acquired before the scramble;the protectorates the hinterlands acquired afterit.African inhabitants of the colonies were British subjects;those of the protectorates were 'protected persons' with no right of entry to Britain without special authorisation of the British government.
For administrative convenience and for the orderly and uniform development of the territories concerned,the distinction between a colony and protectorate became less meaningful as time went on.
