What were three important resources that Europe wanted from West Africa?

One resource Europe wanted from West Africa was gold. The Europeans wanted to enrich their treasuries, and once they learned that gold existed in West Africa, they began to go there to try to get gold. The Portuguese were the first Europeans to realize that gold existed in West Africa. The Portuguese wanted to find gold, a shorter sea route to Asia, and to gain geographical knowledge. Eventually, other European countries also came to West Africa in search of African gold.
The Europeans also wanted to get slaves from West Africa. After the first Portuguese expedition went to West Africa, more expeditions followed. When these ships returned to Portugal, they not only brought gold, they also brought Africans. Eventually, many ports were established in West Africa in which traders, which included the Portuguese, British, and Dutch, traded slaves. Africans were captured in warring raids or were kidnapped by African slave traders and brought to these ports.
Another product that the Europeans wanted from West Africa was ivory. Ivory was traded for various products that came from Europe. The ivory that was traded came from African hunters. This eventually caused the elephant population in West Africa to decline.
The Europeans wanted gold, ivory, and slaves from West Africa.
https://howafrica.com/a-brief-history-of-ivory-trade-in-africa/