Region:  Ghana (formerly Gold Coast, Slave Coast)

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Historical Overview

Ghana (formerly Gold Coast, Slave Coast)

  • 1598: the Dutch build forts at Komenda and Kormantsi
  • 1637: the Dutch seize Elmina Castle from the Portuguese
  • 1642: the Dutch seize Axim from the Portuguese
  • by 1650: more than 30 forts on the Gold Coast built by Dutch (Mouree, etc.), British and Danish merchants: highest concentration of European military architecture outside Europe
  • 1653: Cape Coast Castle built by the Swedish
  • 1872: Elmina is taken by the English
  • 1874: the Dutch withdraw, Gold Coast becomes a British Protectorate
  • 1957: Ghana is independent from the UK