Castles and Dungeons

While Sandra was off dancing and drumming, I headed to the “Gold Coast”, about a 2 hour drive from Takoradi, to tour two castles (forts) which served as the final staging area for the slaves to be shipped out to the Americas. Prior to gaining its independence from the British in 1957 the Gold Coast was one of 3 provinces that became Ghana. Beginning with the arrival of the Portuguese in the 15th century, Ghana was occupied by the Swedes, Danes, Spanish, Dutch and finally by the British. By 1720 the slave trade became a more valuable export than gold.

President Obama visited these sites a little over a year ago and the guide we had was the one who showed the President around. I had given my World Regional geography students a lecture on colonialism in West Africa and the slave trade a couple of days before arriving in Ghana. Seeing the cells and caves and the “Door of no return”, an archway leading to the beach and the ships awaiting to take them across the Atlantic brought a sense of reality to the lecture. And when one walked thru the archway one saw a beach full of local fishermen and their colorful boats and nets.

St. Georges Castle