List of castles in Ghana

During the colonial period in Ghana, at the time known as the Gold Coast, roughly corresponding to the 15th through 19th centuries, European-style coastal forts and castles were built, mostly by the Portuguese, Dutch and British.[1] These forts linked the trading routes established by the Portuguese and acted as important market places for the gold and slave trades.[1]

A map of the Gold Coast circa 1700

Because of their testimony to precolonial and colonial Afro-European commerce, including the Atlantic slave trade, and their profound effect on the history of West Africa, a number of these fortifications and outposts were designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979.[1]

Kumasi Fort in the Ashanti Region was originally built by an Asante king in imitation of these colonial forts.[2]

Coastal regions

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World Heritage listed forts

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Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions
UNESCO World Heritage Site
 
Location  Ghana
Includes
CriteriaCultural: (vi)
Reference34
Inscription1979 (3rd Session)

Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions is the collective designation by UNESCO of European-style fortifications and outposts (mostly Portuguese, Dutch and British) along the Gold Coast (modern-day Ghana) during the colonial period. The term specifically applies to a number of such fortifications designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1979, including:[1]

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Other coastal forts

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Other coastal forts included in Ghana's material cultural heritage list of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board:[3]

Not listed as heritage (mostly largely destroyed or otherwise lost):

 
Regions of Ghana

By region (from East to West):

Other regions

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Retrieved 9 Oct 2022.
  2. ^ a b Kumasi Fort and Military Museum at www.ghanamuseums.org
  3. ^ Forts and Castles at Ghana Museums and Monuments Board website
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