Kwaku Dua I (Kwaku Dua I Panyin, or Barima Fredua Agyeman, c. 1797 – 27 April 1867) was the eighth King of the Kingdom of Ashanti (King of the Ashanti) from August 25, 1834 until King Asantehene Kwaku Dua I death in 1867.

King Asantehene Kwaku Dua I of the Kingdom of Ashanti took part in the fighting against the Gyaman in 1818–19, and commanded an Ashanti division in the Battle of Katamanso in 1826 as a Prince.

In 1834, King Asantehene Kwaku Dua I of the Kingdom of Ashanti succeeded Osei Yaw Akoto to throne as the King of the Kingdom of Ashanti. King Asantehene Kwaku Dua I wives included the Kingdom of Ashanti Princess Nana Takyiau and Princess Nana Konadu Somprema (sister of Princess Nana Takyiau).

On 18 March 1837, Otumfuo Kwaku Dua I, king of the Kingdom of Ashanti signed a contract between him and King William I of the Netherlands. These recruits would become known as Belanda Hitam. He would deliver 1,000 recruits for the Dutch East Indies Army within a year. He received 2,000 guns by way of advance payment, with the promise of 4,000 more to come. Moreover, the Dutch obtained permission from Asantehene, Otumfuo Kwaku Dua I to open a recruitment agency in the Ashanti capital Kumasi which, for the next few years, would be headed by Jacob Huydecoper, a mulatto born in Elmina. Witnessing the frequent human sacrifices in Ashanti, the Dutch were convinced that the King Asantahene of the Kingdom of Ashanti and his court controlled vast amounts of manpower, some of which could be made available to the Dutch army. As recruitment was still supposed to be voluntary, slaves offered to the recruiting agent received an advance payment to purchase their freedom. As part of the deal two princes of Ashanti kingdom, (Kwasi Boakye and Kwame Poku) were to be offered education in the Netherlands. They received Dutch education.

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