Fort James, Ghana

Fort James is located in Accra, Ghana. It was built by the Royal African Company of England as a trading post for both gold and slaves in 1673[1], where it joined the Dutch Fort Crêvecœur (1649), and the Danish Fort Christiansborg (1652).

Fort James
Part of British Gold Coast
Fort Crèvecœur (left) and Fort James (right) in 1727.
Fort James
Coordinates5.5337°N 0.2111°W / 5.5337; -0.2111
Site history
Built1673 (1673)
Garrison information
OccupantsBritain (1673-1957)

Fort James was likely named after James, Duke of York, who was Governor of the RAC at the time it was built and after whom the adjacent town of Jamestown in Accra is also named.

The fort stands next to Jamestown Lighthouse and from colonial times up to 2008 the fort served as a prison.[2][3]

Current situation

It is an historic castle and serves as a tourist site.[4]

The James fort is in a fairly good condition.[5]

James Fort, Accra, Ghana
Fort James
James Fort in Accra as seen from the beach in Jamestown

Notes

  1. Dow, George Francis (2013). Slave Ships and Slaving. Dover Publications. ISBN 1-306-35536-2. OCLC 868969351.
  2. Briggs, Philip. Ghana (Sixth ed.). Bradt Travel Guides Ltd. p. 147. ISBN 9781841624785.
  3. Centre, UNESCO World Heritage. "Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions". whc.unesco.org. Retrieved 2018-09-17.
  4. "James Fort, Greater Accra, Ghana". gh.geoview.info. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
  5. "Ghana Museums & Monuments Board". www.ghanamuseums.org. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
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