Fort Metal Cross - Dixcove

The Dixcove Fort was built by the British in 1691 and was the only British Fort in a Dutch-controlled territory for the better part of two centuries. It was captured by the Dutch in 1868 and renamed Metalen Kruiz and then later returned to the British in 1872 along with all the other Forts along the coast. The name stayed but was changed into the English version - Metal Cross. The town of Dixcove is named after Captain Dixon. Fort Metal Cross is an impressive trading fort that overlooks the bustling fishing town. The fort was converted for use as a slave trading post in 1775. The fort has recently been restored (July of 2003) as part of an agreement granting a British company the rights to build a resort hotel nearby, overlooking the sea.

Fort Apollonia - Beyin

Fort St. Apollonia began in 1660 as a Dutch lodge in Beyin. It was converted into a fort and occupied by the British in 1768 and then abandoned after the abolition of slavery. As part of a treaty, the British handed it over to the Dutch in 1868 who renamed it after their King Willem or William III. The British again occupied the fort in 1872. Restoration work on the fort was started in 1962 and completed in 1968. Mr. Mensah, the caretaker, has devoted over 30 years of his life to keeping the fort in good order. Recently retired, he turned the custodianship over to his nephew Stephen. The fort is a popular stopover with guests who are bound for the stilt village of Nzulezo . There are two private bedrooms in the old governor's quarters and guests can stay the night for a small fee.

Fort Batenstein - Butre

As early as 1598, the Dutch West India Company established a trading post at Butre. Later the Dutch-financed Swedish Africa Company set up a lodge at Butre in 1650-52. In 1656 the Dutch Company constructed its own fort on the hill overlooking Butre and named it Batenstein. Of little value militarily, Batenstein mainly existed as a "service fort", producing timber for ships of the line. Its guns were rarely fired unless as a salute to arriving ships. As a trading centre it rarely held slaves and contributed little to the coffers of the Dutch Company. It was eventually abandoned during the period of 1818-1829. Today much of the fort is in ruins, yet it holds a special charm and does provide a spectacular view of the seacoast and town below.

Fort Orange - Sekondi

The coast at Sekondi became another theatre of European trade competition in the 17th and 18th centuries. The foundations of the earliest-known Dutch lodge date from the 1670's. By 1704 the lodge had become a small fort called "Oranje" or " Orange ". This is not only the national color of the Netherlands today, but also the name of one of the founders of the country: Willem van Oranje. Built in a square, it featured bastions at its four corners with cannon, apartments for officers and the commandant, a warehouse and a slave prison. The economic history of the fort was insubstantial, with little trade in either slaves or gold. It was finally abandoned in 1840 for a time. Many of its problems stemmed from harassment by the Wassa and the Ahanta. The fort was handed over to England in 1872 and has since then served as a lighthouse.

Fort San Sebastion - Shama

In the early years of trading activity in the Gold Coast, one of the first centres frequented by the Portuguese was the village of Shama , east of Cape Three Points. There they maintained a small lodge for several years. In 1558 a wooden palisade and a tower were built and a permanent garrison was established. The Portuguese built the actual Fort San Sebastian in the 1620's; it later became a Dutch property. During the 1600's the garrison was manned by only one official. Finding the fort abandoned in 1638, the Dutch occupied it. In 1664 the fort was captured by the English, but a year later the Dutch regained possession and rebuilt it. They also maintained a cotton plantation near the fort from 1765 to1783. It remained in their hands until 1872, when it was ceded to the English. It is a prime example of both Portuguese and Dutch influences.

Fort São Antonio (St. Anthony) - Axim

In August 1503 a small trading post was built by the Portuguese, west of Cape Three Points; it was called Fort São Antonio de Axim, and in 1515 it was rebuilt to be more fortified. During the Portuguese rule, the fort was an important trade center. It was garrisoned by only 10-20 Portuguese soldiers, but if necessary, they were assisted by a force of 150 local African allies. Despite the Dutch capture of São Jorge de Mina, Axim remained in Portuguese hands for a few years more. The first Dutch attack in 1641 was driven back, but in February 1642, a new attempt was successful and the Dutch occupied the fort. In 1664 the English captured the fort, but the Dutch soon retook it again. It remained in Dutch hands until 1872, when it was sold to the English. This triangular fort is the second oldest fort in Ghana after Elmina Castle (São Jorge). As Axim was one of the busiest trading posts in the 17th century, more gold was traded through Fort São Antonio than any Dutch Fort. By the 18th century the area surrounding the fort became an important source of timber and cotton. The fort became a regional administrative center in the colonial era and held that distinction until early 2000.

Fort Gross-Friedrichsburg - Princes Town

Brandenburg was an historic Grand Duchy which formed the primary nucleus of the Prussian State . The Brandenburg African Company was created under the reign of the Grand Elector Friedrich-Wilhelm von Brandenburg and for 40 years held sovereignty over several forts at: Arguin, Takrama, Takoradi, Akwida (Ft. Dorothea), Whydah and Princes Town or Pokesu. On January 1, 1683, a Brandenburger expedition of two ships arrived in the Gold Coast and started to build a strong fort between Axim and Cape Three Points, which was named Gross-Friedrichsburg. The fort was slated to be the headquarters of the Brandenburgs in Africa . Initially it was garrisoned by 91 European men and 130 Africans. The fort was square shaped with four bastions. In the first 15 years the Brandenburgers developed a lucrative trade with the Africans, but from 1700 their fortunes began to decline. The Brandenburgers left in 1717 and the fort was occupied by the local Ahanta. The Company had an alliance with an Ahanta chief called John Couny who was in rebellion with the Dutch and the English. In 1720 a treaty was concluded between the King of Prussia and the Dutch, and all the African forts of Brandenburg were sold to the Hollanders, but the African ally of Prussia/Brandenburg, John Couny, refused to surrender Gross-Friedrichsburg. In 1725, after repeated assaults on the fort, the Dutch captured Gross-Friedrichsburg and renamed it Fort Hollandia . It was later abandoned by the Dutch in 1815. In 1872, it formally became English property. The fort was one of the most luxurious forts on the entire coast. It is now popular with budget-minded backpackers and trekkers who can stay fthere for a nominal fee. In ruins at the time of Ghana 's independence, much of it has since been restored.

The Brandenburgers

had grandiose designs on establishing Prussia as an equally powerful trading empire that would rival those of the Portuguese and the Dutch. In addition to Fort Gross-Friedrichsburg , a number of small garrisons and forts were established or proposed at various points along the coast of the Western Region. Little remains of these other forts today.

Fort Dorothea - Akwida *

Built  in 1685. Present day it is in ruins.

Fort Sophie Louise, Takrama *

The lodge was built in 1690 but changed hands to the English 1691. Presently only the foundations are visible.

Fort Elise Carthago - Mouth of Ankobra (04°54'N - 02°16'W) *

Begun as a Customs House in 1650, "Elise Carthago" was occupied from 1680 to 1740. It was only a lodge and never achieved the status of an actual fort.
By the 1720's, the Brandenberg African Company had left the Gold Coast. The Company, which had been taken up by the Great Elector (Friedrich-Wilhelm von Brandenburg), survived him for only a very brief time. As for the Brandenburg-Prussian navy, which had been organised by the ingenious and much misunderstood Raule (also director of the Brandenburg African Company), it had served the purpose of irritating Spain before it came to an early end.