The Danish traders built Fort Prinzenstein in Keta, Ghana’s Volta Region, in 1784 as part of their effort to defend their slave-trading operation. The Fort is one of the few European slave traders erected outside of the Central and Greater Accra regions.
The Fort was built by the Danish to safeguard Danish commerce from the native Anlo people, who were indigenes of the town at the time. The Danes and the locals were fighting a vicious conflict over trade issues, and the Anlos were accused of stealing from the Danish agent stationed on the coast. The Danish government did not take this lightly, and prepared an army to assault Keta made up of Anlo’s worst enemies, including the Krobos and Gas.
During the 1700s, the European nations’ battle for territorial control of Africa was at its peak, with each nation vying for control of key commercial territories. The Danes believed that building a fort in Keta would help them maintain territorial control over the area and keep other colonial powers at bay.
After the battle, however, the Fort was more commonly utilized as a dungeon, where slaves were imprisoned for weeks or months before being shipped to Europe or the Americas.
In 1803, the Danes sold the Fort and the remainder of their lands to the British, who had gained control of the majority of the Gold Coast by that time.
Following the end of colonial control and Ghana’s independence in 1957, the Fort was ultimately handed over to the Ghanaian government. Due to its location, Fort Prinzenstein has experienced significant erosion in recent decades, with the sea steadily washing away the once-famous Fort that served as a reminder of the people’s colonial past.
Who built Fort Prinzenstein?
The Danish built the Fort to protect Danish trade from the indigenous Anlo people who lived in the town at the time. The Anlos were accused of stealing from the Danish agent stationed on the coast, and the Danes and the natives were engaged in a bitter trade war.
In which region is Fort Prinzenstein?
Fort Prinzenstein is a former Danish Fort located at Keta, in the Volta Region of Ghana, which has it’s origins as Fort Singelenburgh, built in 1734 by the Dutch, but the fort was abandoned just three years later.
Ghana Travel Restrictions
Ghana is open to most travelers again. I mean travelers from all over the world. However, you do need proof of your COVID-19 vaccination(s) or a negative test result before being allowed entry.
Many hotels, attractions, and private tours are open with new health & safety protocols in place, and you still have to follow certain guidelines. They are all good for our safety.
Read the ultimate travel guide to Ghana to help you plan your trip.