Reasons slaves were sent from West Africa are as follows:
- The west African coast was located closer to the Americas than the coast of the east and south Africa. This made it easier and more cost-effective to transport slaves.
- West Africa had several ports, such as Kate Coast and Elmina, that were accessible to European traders and made it easier to transport slaves
- European traders had establish long-standing trade networks with west African states, such as the kingdom of Dahomey and the Ashanti Empire, that were in control of the capture and sale of slaves
- slavery was already in established institution in many west African societies, and some African rulers were willing to sell captives from rival tribes to European traders in exchange for goods and other benefits
- West Africa had a large population of people