Stories and facts

Ghana has more castles and forts built during the transatlantic slave trade than any other African country. Along its coast, over forty of these structures were built by European traders, including the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Swedes.

Initially established as trading posts for gold and other goods, they were later used as holding places for enslaved Africans before they were shipped to the Americas.

Notable among these are Elmina Castle and Cape Coast Castle, which became notorious as dungeons where thousands awaited their forced departure, earning the haunting name “the gate of no return.”

These castles and forts stand as powerful reminders of a painful chapter in world history. Today, about thirty of them still exist, preserved as significant historical sites.

They have been designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites because they bear witness to the brutal realities of the slave trade and the resilience of the people affected.

Many visitors from across the globe come to Ghana to explore these sites, seeking to understand this dark period and honour the memory of those who suffered.

Read more on each fort's history below: