July 17, 2024 • 13 mins
Embark on a journey through time and culture in our latest Global Treasures episode, as we explore the majestic Forts and Castles of Ghana's Volta, Greater Accra, Central, and Western Regions. Discover the rich tapestry of history woven into these UNESCO World Heritage sites, from their roles in the transatlantic slave trade to their transformation into symbols of resilience and remembrance. We'll uncover hidden stories and provide insider travel tips for your visit. Whether you're a history buff, adventure seeker, or cultural enthusiast, this episode promises to transport you to the heart of West African heritage.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Abigail (00:00):
I'm Abigail.
Keith (00:01):
And I'm Keith.
Abigail (00:02):
And this is the Global Treasures Podcast.
We'll cover different worldheritage sites each episode.
Keith (00:09):
These sites have been identified as having universal
cultural or natural significance.
Abigail (00:13):
That is so exceptional that it transcends national
boundaries, and it's of importanceto present and future generations.
Keith (00:21):
There are 1,199 sites across the world with more being added every year.
Abigail (00:26):
We'll spend each episode exploring the history, legends,
travel tips, and so much more.
Keith (00:33):
Welcome to season two, where we'll explore the 45
sites that UNESCO added in 1979.
Abigail (00:39):
Today we'll be exploring forts and Castles in Ghana,
formerly known as the Gold Coast.
This UNESCO World Heritage Siteconsists of three castles and 15
forts that were erected between 1482and 1786 along the coast of Ghana,
spanning a distance of approximately500 kilometers, or 310 miles, from
(01:05):
Keta in the east to Beyin in the west.
Keith (01:08):
The three castles included in this UNESCO site are the Cape Coast, St.
George's d'Elmina, andChristiansborg at Osu, Accra.
St.
George's d'Elmina is particularlynotable for being the oldest site, as
it was the first trading post builtby Europeans on the Gulf of Guinea.
It's also the oldest European buildingbuilt below the Sahara Desert, and one
(01:30):
of the oldest European buildings tohave ever been built outside of Europe.
In addition to the castles, thereare 15 forts that make up this site.
These include Good Hope atSanya Baraku, Patience at Apam,
Amsterdam at Abandzi, Saint Jagoat Elmina, San Sebastian at Shama.
Meadow Cross at Dixcove, St.
Anthony at Axim, Orange at Sekondi,Groot Fredericksborg at Princesstown,
(01:55):
William at Cape Coast, William atAnomabu, Victoria at Cape Coast, Ussher
at Usshertown, Accra, James at Jamestown,and Acra and Apollonia at Beyin.
Oof, that was quite a bit of them.
Abigail (02:08):
Unfortunately, some of these sites have fallen into ruin over time.
There are 11 sites that are nowruins, including the English Fort at
British Komenda, Vernon at PramPram,and Fredericksborg at Amanful Cape
Coast, as well as eight others.
Keith (02:27):
These castles and forts were built, occupied, and then altered
at different times by tradersfrom various European countries.
including Portugal, Spain, Denmark,Sweden, Holland, Germany, and Britain,
all of the really powerful empires at thetime that were interested in exploration.
They initially served the gold tradeof the European Chartered Nations,
(02:47):
but later played a significantpart in developing the slave trade.
These sites also played a rolein the history of the Americas
and, in the 19th century, in thesuppression of that slave trade.
Abigail (02:59):
The basic design of the forts consists of a large
square or rectangle with outercomponents such as four bastions,
batteries, or towers at the corners.
The inner components include buildingsof two or three stories, with or without
towers, an enclosure, or couryard.
Keith (03:19):
St.
George's d'Elmina, built in 1482, asmentioned before, is one of the oldest
European buildings outside of Europe.
The historic town of Elmina isbelieved to be the location of
the first point of contact betweenEuropeans and sub Saharan Africans.
For four centuries, the castles andforts acted like a shopping street
(03:40):
for West Africa, were traders fromEurope's most important maritime
nations came to exchange their goodwith African traders, some of whom came
from far into the interior of Africa.
Abigail (03:51):
The forts and castles site in Ghana is seen as a unique collective
historical monument that not onlyrepresents the evils of the slave
trade, but also nearly four centuriesof pre colonial Afro European commerce
on the basis of equality rather thanthe colonial basis of inequality.
(04:13):
These sites represent the continuinghistory of European African encounters
over five centuries and serve as thestarting point of the African Diaspora.
Keith (04:24):
It's worth noting that the forts in Ghana are far easier to visit and
are better preserved than the slaveforts in other neighboring countries.
This is due to Ghana's better tourisminfrastructure and the resources it
devotes to cultural preservation,which we'll talk about later.
Let's dive a little further intothe history of these sites so we
can get a better idea of why UNESCOsees this as culturally significant
(04:46):
enough to have included it on thelist of sites in the second year.
Abigail (04:50):
Before we dive into the history, it's essential to understand the rich
cultural background of the region.
Ghana had peoples who were farmers,hunters, potters, and traders.
Evidence of animal rearing, crop farming,hunting, and pottery is abundant.
Old Ghana had rich and complex varietiesof languages, culture, and wealth.
Keith (05:15):
By 800 A.
D., Ghana was already a thrivingcenter for trade and commerce.
In fact, by 1070, it was considered oneof the most powerful empires in the world
due to its wealth and military prowess.
It wasn't until the 15th centurythat Europeans first came to Ghana
to trade, bringing with them clothes,guns, gunpowder, alcohol, metal
(05:37):
knives, mirrors, and beads, inexchange for gold, land, and ivory.
Abigail (05:42):
So during the colonial period in Ghana, European style
coastal forts and castles were builtbetween the 15th and 19th centuries.
These buildings were mostly constructedby the Portuguese, Dutch, and British.
And they were linked to the tradingroutes established by the Portuguese.
These forts and castles actedas an important marketplace
(06:05):
for the gold and slave trades.
Keith (06:08):
Interestingly, the Kumasi Fort in the Ashanti region was
originally built by an Asante kingin imitation of these European forts.
Initially, the forts were used tostore gold and other resources.
However, as the demand for workersat American plantations grew, the
slave trade became more lucrative.
This resulted in the transatlanticslave trade, which supplied slaves
(06:29):
to the Americas and the Caribbean.
Abigail (06:32):
As a result of this shift in trade, The forts and
castles along the coast becameholding points for the slaves.
The once thriving centers ofcommerce and cultural exchange were
transformed into places of immensehuman suffering and injustice.
The legacy of this dark period inhistory can still be felt today, and
(06:55):
the Forts and Castles, UNESCO site,serves as a reminder of both the rich
cultural heritage of Ghana and thetragic consequences of the slave trade.
Keith (07:06):
And just in case you find yourself visiting the site, here's
a few factoids that'll make yousmarter than your average tourist.
For instance, The Cape Coast Castle,built by the Swedes in 1653, was
actually later taken over by the Britishand served as the seat of the British
colonial government in Ghana until thecountry gained independence in 1957.
(07:27):
Today, it houses the WestAfrican Historical Museum.
The Christian Borg Castle inOsu, Accra, has a unique history.
It was built by the Danes in the1660s, and has served as the seat
of government for many nations,including Denmark, Portugal, the Akwamu
Empire, Britain, and finally Ghana.
It's actually currently thepresidential palace of Ghana.
(07:49):
Now that we've covered what the siteis, a bit of the history, and some
of the lesser known facts, let'sactually talk about getting there.
I know this is not the most visited UNESCOsite for sure, since it's so spread out,
I'm sure that visiting the whole sitewould present itself as a challenge.
So Abigail, this is yourarea, what did you find out?
Abigail (08:08):
So, there isn't a whole lot to report here because, like you said,
there either isn't a whole lot to seedue to certain areas having fallen
into disrepair, or it's just reallytough to get to the various sites.
Like you said, it's time consumingbecause all of these sites are
spread out along the coast.
(08:29):
There are Cape Coast tours that takeyou to Elmina and others in that
area, but otherwise You'll have totry to rent a car or get some sort
of shuttle to get to see them all.
And, I would say if you want to see thevarious forts and castles, you really
should book a tour through a vetted site.
(08:51):
So let me backtrack.
You'll want to fly into KatokaInternational Airport and then take
either a taxi or a shuttle or againrent a car so you can go to the sites.
If you're going to go with a taxi,I'd recommend asking the company
you book your tour through to seeif they have recommendations for
(09:12):
companies to use to ensure you'regetting a legitimate service.
In terms of thinking about what topack and what the weather is like, the
rainiest season is between May and June.
And temperatures ebb between the high 70sto 90 degrees Fahrenheit, so it gets hot.
Keith (09:31):
So with all the history of empires influence in Ghana, and the last one of
these being the English, I'm guessing thelanguage of the country is still English.
I'm not sure, but is that the case?
Abigail (09:42):
Yes, it is actually, and I was personally surprised by that.
Keith (09:46):
Okay, and did you find anything on the best place to
stay to be sort of centralizedto visit these spread out sites?
Abigail (09:52):
There are a couple hotels in Cape Coast, which is actually a
World Heritage Site itself, and is thehome to over 30 festivals annually.
So you might want to see what festivalsare being held when you visit.
Keith (10:05):
All right.
Everybody knows I'm alwaysgoing to ask about food.
I'm super curious with the numberof cultures that have moved in
and out of this region and theculinary influences that must have
stayed behind and got assimilated.
So what amazing dishes did youfind out about that we should try?
Abigail (10:21):
In terms of food, the Fante people of Ghana are known for their
unique use of fish in dishes becausethey're excellent fishermen and have
techniques to preserve the fish down pat.
A few examples of dishes that incorporatethis expertise include okro stew, which
is usually a host of different typesof fish like salmon and shellfish,
(10:44):
along with vegetables anda chicken or seafood stock.
Another dish is Fante keykey, which ismade from cornmeal and usually eaten
with dishes like okra stew as a side.
Keith (10:57):
Once again, these sound like some great dishes I'd love to try.
Alright, so you also often look into thechallenges of preserving these sites.
I know Ghana has a pretty goodinfrastructure, especially
when it comes to tourism.
So I'm hoping that we'rein good shape on this one.
What did you learn about thepreservation of these buildings?
The ones that are left, I mean.
Abigail (11:16):
The main issues here are threefold, so I'll kind of
break them down into categories.
The first being environmentalor weather related issues.
Ghana has a tropical climate andexperiences strong winds, intense rain,
and a caustic, salty atmosphere due toits close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
(11:39):
As a result, these factors physicallywear away at the buildings.
Also, sea levels are changing, andas a result, some buildings are
affected by the encroachment of thesea, and the erosion of the ground
on which the structures are located.
The second issue revolves aroundthe fact that none of the sites
included have well defined boundaries,so other homes or buildings have
(12:04):
been constructed around them.
As a result, pollution of the surroundingsand illegal quarrying of sand and soil
around the forts is starting to underminethe stability of the structures as well.
In terms of the pollution I mentioned,People dump their garbage and
contaminate the beaches around the forts.
(12:24):
It's also unhygienic and often ends upin the ocean, which is bad for the sea
creatures who might eat that garbage.
Finally, Much of the above is happeningbecause this site doesn't get a whole
lot of funding to provide regular upkeep.
There is some minor fundingfrom UNDP and USAID.
but Most of the upkeep is paid for by thegovernment of Ghana, so there's a true
(12:49):
need for more funding to be deployed.
To prevent these incredible fortsand castles from collapsing,
so future generations cancontinue to visit these sites.
Thank you for listening to anotherepisode of the Global Treasures Podcast.
You can check us outon YouTube and TikTok.
Keith (13:07):
Thanks so much for joining us.
Another quick word about us (13:09):
Abigail and I truly believe what we're
doing is spreading the word ofthese UNESCO sites and can't wait
to share each of these with you.
If you happen to also think this isimportant, consider leaving us a five star
written review with a message saying why.
This helps others who may not evenknow about this program of world
heritage sites find this podcast,and learn of these amazing areas.
(13:33):
It also lets providers know that peoplefind value in what we're doing here.
So thank you.
We know it takes time to write these, wevalue everyone that's already been left,
and we can't wait to get more.
We're so grateful to each andevery one of our listeners.
We spread the word.
We can't wait to see you nexttime when we take you to the
Grand Canyon in the United States.
I'm Abigail.
Keith (00:01):
And I'm Keith.
Abigail (00:02):
And this is the Global Treasures Podcast.
We'll cover different worldheritage sites each episode.
Keith (00:09):
These sites have been identified as having universal
cultural or natural significance.
Abigail (00:13):
That is so exceptional that it transcends national
boundaries, and it's of importanceto present and future generations.
Keith (00:21):
There are 1,199 sites across the world with more being added every year.
Abigail (00:26):
We'll spend each episode exploring the history, legends,
travel tips, and so much more.
Keith (00:33):
Welcome to season two, where we'll explore the 45
sites that UNESCO added in 1979.
Abigail (00:39):
Today we'll be exploring forts and Castles in Ghana,
formerly known as the Gold Coast.
This UNESCO World Heritage Siteconsists of three castles and 15
forts that were erected between 1482and 1786 along the coast of Ghana,
spanning a distance of approximately500 kilometers, or 310 miles, from
(01:05):
Keta in the east to Beyin in the west.
Keith (01:08):
The three castles included in this UNESCO site are the Cape Coast, St.
George's d'Elmina, andChristiansborg at Osu, Accra.
St.
George's d'Elmina is particularlynotable for being the oldest site, as
it was the first trading post builtby Europeans on the Gulf of Guinea.
It's also the oldest European buildingbuilt below the Sahara Desert, and one
(01:30):
of the oldest European buildings tohave ever been built outside of Europe.
In addition to the castles, thereare 15 forts that make up this site.
These include Good Hope atSanya Baraku, Patience at Apam,
Amsterdam at Abandzi, Saint Jagoat Elmina, San Sebastian at Shama.
Meadow Cross at Dixcove, St.
Anthony at Axim, Orange at Sekondi,Groot Fredericksborg at Princesstown,
(01:55):
William at Cape Coast, William atAnomabu, Victoria at Cape Coast, Ussher
at Usshertown, Accra, James at Jamestown,and Acra and Apollonia at Beyin.
Oof, that was quite a bit of them.
Abigail (02:08):
Unfortunately, some of these sites have fallen into ruin over time.
There are 11 sites that are nowruins, including the English Fort at
British Komenda, Vernon at PramPram,and Fredericksborg at Amanful Cape
Coast, as well as eight others.
Keith (02:27):
These castles and forts were built, occupied, and then altered
at different times by tradersfrom various European countries.
including Portugal, Spain, Denmark,Sweden, Holland, Germany, and Britain,
all of the really powerful empires at thetime that were interested in exploration.
They initially served the gold tradeof the European Chartered Nations,
(02:47):
but later played a significantpart in developing the slave trade.
These sites also played a rolein the history of the Americas
and, in the 19th century, in thesuppression of that slave trade.
Abigail (02:59):
The basic design of the forts consists of a large
square or rectangle with outercomponents such as four bastions,
batteries, or towers at the corners.
The inner components include buildingsof two or three stories, with or without
towers, an enclosure, or couryard.
Keith (03:19):
St.
George's d'Elmina, built in 1482, asmentioned before, is one of the oldest
European buildings outside of Europe.
The historic town of Elmina isbelieved to be the location of
the first point of contact betweenEuropeans and sub Saharan Africans.
For four centuries, the castles andforts acted like a shopping street
(03:40):
for West Africa, were traders fromEurope's most important maritime
nations came to exchange their goodwith African traders, some of whom came
from far into the interior of Africa.
Abigail (03:51):
The forts and castles site in Ghana is seen as a unique collective
historical monument that not onlyrepresents the evils of the slave
trade, but also nearly four centuriesof pre colonial Afro European commerce
on the basis of equality rather thanthe colonial basis of inequality.
(04:13):
These sites represent the continuinghistory of European African encounters
over five centuries and serve as thestarting point of the African Diaspora.
Keith (04:24):
It's worth noting that the forts in Ghana are far easier to visit and
are better preserved than the slaveforts in other neighboring countries.
This is due to Ghana's better tourisminfrastructure and the resources it
devotes to cultural preservation,which we'll talk about later.
Let's dive a little further intothe history of these sites so we
can get a better idea of why UNESCOsees this as culturally significant
(04:46):
enough to have included it on thelist of sites in the second year.
Abigail (04:50):
Before we dive into the history, it's essential to understand the rich
cultural background of the region.
Ghana had peoples who were farmers,hunters, potters, and traders.
Evidence of animal rearing, crop farming,hunting, and pottery is abundant.
Old Ghana had rich and complex varietiesof languages, culture, and wealth.
Keith (05:15):
By 800 A.
D., Ghana was already a thrivingcenter for trade and commerce.
In fact, by 1070, it was considered oneof the most powerful empires in the world
due to its wealth and military prowess.
It wasn't until the 15th centurythat Europeans first came to Ghana
to trade, bringing with them clothes,guns, gunpowder, alcohol, metal
(05:37):
knives, mirrors, and beads, inexchange for gold, land, and ivory.
Abigail (05:42):
So during the colonial period in Ghana, European style
coastal forts and castles were builtbetween the 15th and 19th centuries.
These buildings were mostly constructedby the Portuguese, Dutch, and British.
And they were linked to the tradingroutes established by the Portuguese.
These forts and castles actedas an important marketplace
(06:05):
for the gold and slave trades.
Keith (06:08):
Interestingly, the Kumasi Fort in the Ashanti region was
originally built by an Asante kingin imitation of these European forts.
Initially, the forts were used tostore gold and other resources.
However, as the demand for workersat American plantations grew, the
slave trade became more lucrative.
This resulted in the transatlanticslave trade, which supplied slaves
(06:29):
to the Americas and the Caribbean.
Abigail (06:32):
As a result of this shift in trade, The forts and
castles along the coast becameholding points for the slaves.
The once thriving centers ofcommerce and cultural exchange were
transformed into places of immensehuman suffering and injustice.
The legacy of this dark period inhistory can still be felt today, and
(06:55):
the Forts and Castles, UNESCO site,serves as a reminder of both the rich
cultural heritage of Ghana and thetragic consequences of the slave trade.
Keith (07:06):
And just in case you find yourself visiting the site, here's
a few factoids that'll make yousmarter than your average tourist.
For instance, The Cape Coast Castle,built by the Swedes in 1653, was
actually later taken over by the Britishand served as the seat of the British
colonial government in Ghana until thecountry gained independence in 1957.
(07:27):
Today, it houses the WestAfrican Historical Museum.
The Christian Borg Castle inOsu, Accra, has a unique history.
It was built by the Danes in the1660s, and has served as the seat
of government for many nations,including Denmark, Portugal, the Akwamu
Empire, Britain, and finally Ghana.
It's actually currently thepresidential palace of Ghana.
(07:49):
Now that we've covered what the siteis, a bit of the history, and some
of the lesser known facts, let'sactually talk about getting there.
I know this is not the most visited UNESCOsite for sure, since it's so spread out,
I'm sure that visiting the whole sitewould present itself as a challenge.
So Abigail, this is yourarea, what did you find out?
Abigail (08:08):
So, there isn't a whole lot to report here because, like you said,
there either isn't a whole lot to seedue to certain areas having fallen
into disrepair, or it's just reallytough to get to the various sites.
Like you said, it's time consumingbecause all of these sites are
spread out along the coast.
(08:29):
There are Cape Coast tours that takeyou to Elmina and others in that
area, but otherwise You'll have totry to rent a car or get some sort
of shuttle to get to see them all.
And, I would say if you want to see thevarious forts and castles, you really
should book a tour through a vetted site.
(08:51):
So let me backtrack.
You'll want to fly into KatokaInternational Airport and then take
either a taxi or a shuttle or againrent a car so you can go to the sites.
If you're going to go with a taxi,I'd recommend asking the company
you book your tour through to seeif they have recommendations for
(09:12):
companies to use to ensure you'regetting a legitimate service.
In terms of thinking about what topack and what the weather is like, the
rainiest season is between May and June.
And temperatures ebb between the high 70sto 90 degrees Fahrenheit, so it gets hot.
Keith (09:31):
So with all the history of empires influence in Ghana, and the last one of
these being the English, I'm guessing thelanguage of the country is still English.
I'm not sure, but is that the case?
Abigail (09:42):
Yes, it is actually, and I was personally surprised by that.
Keith (09:46):
Okay, and did you find anything on the best place to
stay to be sort of centralizedto visit these spread out sites?
Abigail (09:52):
There are a couple hotels in Cape Coast, which is actually a
World Heritage Site itself, and is thehome to over 30 festivals annually.
So you might want to see what festivalsare being held when you visit.
Keith (10:05):
All right.
Everybody knows I'm alwaysgoing to ask about food.
I'm super curious with the numberof cultures that have moved in
and out of this region and theculinary influences that must have
stayed behind and got assimilated.
So what amazing dishes did youfind out about that we should try?
Abigail (10:21):
In terms of food, the Fante people of Ghana are known for their
unique use of fish in dishes becausethey're excellent fishermen and have
techniques to preserve the fish down pat.
A few examples of dishes that incorporatethis expertise include okro stew, which
is usually a host of different typesof fish like salmon and shellfish,
(10:44):
along with vegetables anda chicken or seafood stock.
Another dish is Fante keykey, which ismade from cornmeal and usually eaten
with dishes like okra stew as a side.
Keith (10:57):
Once again, these sound like some great dishes I'd love to try.
Alright, so you also often look into thechallenges of preserving these sites.
I know Ghana has a pretty goodinfrastructure, especially
when it comes to tourism.
So I'm hoping that we'rein good shape on this one.
What did you learn about thepreservation of these buildings?
The ones that are left, I mean.
Abigail (11:16):
The main issues here are threefold, so I'll kind of
break them down into categories.
The first being environmentalor weather related issues.
Ghana has a tropical climate andexperiences strong winds, intense rain,
and a caustic, salty atmosphere due toits close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean.
(11:39):
As a result, these factors physicallywear away at the buildings.
Also, sea levels are changing, andas a result, some buildings are
affected by the encroachment of thesea, and the erosion of the ground
on which the structures are located.
The second issue revolves aroundthe fact that none of the sites
included have well defined boundaries,so other homes or buildings have
(12:04):
been constructed around them.
As a result, pollution of the surroundingsand illegal quarrying of sand and soil
around the forts is starting to underminethe stability of the structures as well.
In terms of the pollution I mentioned,People dump their garbage and
contaminate the beaches around the forts.
(12:24):
It's also unhygienic and often ends upin the ocean, which is bad for the sea
creatures who might eat that garbage.
Finally, Much of the above is happeningbecause this site doesn't get a whole
lot of funding to provide regular upkeep.
There is some minor fundingfrom UNDP and USAID.
but Most of the upkeep is paid for by thegovernment of Ghana, so there's a true
(12:49):
need for more funding to be deployed.
To prevent these incredible fortsand castles from collapsing,
so future generations cancontinue to visit these sites.
Thank you for listening to anotherepisode of the Global Treasures Podcast.
You can check us outon YouTube and TikTok.
Keith (13:07):
Thanks so much for joining us.
Another quick word about us (13:09):
Abigail and I truly believe what we're
doing is spreading the word ofthese UNESCO sites and can't wait
to share each of these with you.
If you happen to also think this isimportant, consider leaving us a five star
written review with a message saying why.
This helps others who may not evenknow about this program of world
heritage sites find this podcast,and learn of these amazing areas.
(13:33):
It also lets providers know that peoplefind value in what we're doing here.
So thank you.
We know it takes time to write these, wevalue everyone that's already been left,
and we can't wait to get more.
We're so grateful to each andevery one of our listeners.
We spread the word.
We can't wait to see you nexttime when we take you to the
Grand Canyon in the United States.
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