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Accra and Volta Region Forts and Castles
Fort Christiansborg - Accra
In the 1650's, the Danes purchased a number of trading posts on the Gold Coast, among them forts such as Fort Frederiksborg at Kpompo and Fort Christianborg (at Accra - in 1661), from Sweden. The Danes entered the Transatlantic Slave Trade in 1651. In 1685 the Danes moved their headquarters from Fort Frederiksborg near Cape Coast to Fort Christiansborg . This fort was situated near two others forts: Fort Crévecoeur and Fort James , the former Dutch and the latter English. The Danish fort was located on a rock cliff near the coastal town of Osu and its position was the best of the three. Christiansborg Castle remained the headquarters for Denmark-Norway's commercial activities on the Gold Coast and it still bears the monogram of King Christian VII, ruler of the twin monarchy. In 1850, the Danes sold the Castle to the English. Christiansborg was rebuilt and used as a residence for the British Governor of the Gold Coast between 1877 and 1957. In 1957 it became the official residence of the Prime Minister of Ghana and was renamed Government House. It later became the official residence of Dr. Kwame Nkrumah in 1960 and has remained the seat of Government. It has been frequently rebuilt with several additions in recent years. As the state residence of the President of Ghana, it is not open to the public.
Ussher Fort ( Fort Crêvecoeur ) – Accra
Fort Crêvecoeur was built in Accra by the Dutch in 1649. It was renamed Ussher Fort in 1868 after the British administrator who was instrumental in the Exchange of Territories that year. With the British occupation, Ussher was used mainly as a prison (along with James Fort). They enlarged the fort considerably, and the original Dutch fort is now almost invisible. In 1993, the fort ceased to function as a prison, when it was taken over by the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), who now use part of the building as offices.
James Fort - Accra
In 1557 the Portuguese built a trading lodge in Accra which they later fortified and enlarged in 1576. However, between 1577 and 1578, the half-built fort was attacked and destroyed by the locals. James Fort was later built on the site by the English in 1673 and used as a base for attacking the Dutch Fort Crêvecoeur. After Ghana gained its independence, James Fort was converted for use as a prison. The layout is similar to many contemporary forts in Europe . Today Fort St. James is still used used as a prison as well as a lighthouse and signal station. Accra still preserves the community distinctions of James Town, Ussher Town and Christiansborg, indicative of the city's tripartate origins.
Fort Augustaborg - Teshie
This site was a Dutch post from the 1730 to the 1740's. In 1787 a small fortress called Augustaborg was built at Teshie and at Kpone another small fort (Isegram or Isegraae) was constructed.
Fort Vernon - Prampram
Built in 1740 by the British as a trading post, Fort Vernon was later destroyed by the Danes. The British rebuilt it in 1806 only to abandon it 14 years later. In 1831 the fort was re-occupied and finally abandoned in 1844. Only a few traces of these forts remain today.
Fort Kongenstein - Ada
Fort Kongensten was built by the Danes at Ada in 1783. It is likely that earlier there was a Portuguese lodge in the middle of the 16th century (probably by 1576). Today only traces of ruins remain.
Kumasi Fort - Kumasi
Fort Kumasi is Ghana 's only inland fort. It was constructed by the British in 1896 to consolidate their hold on the Ashanti . The Ashanti briefly reasserted their independence when they laid seige to the fort and the British Governor after he tried to take possession of the Golden Stool - the symbol of Ashanti power and independence. A force was sent out to lift the siege but proved to be too small when 800 warriors launched a full scale attack on the fort. The governor escaped, leaving a small force to hold the fort. A larger force was sent to relive the fort after severe fighting erupted throughout Kumasi . Today the Kumasi Fort is a Military Museum with various displays about the Ashanti wars and World Wars I and II.
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