Fort St. Jago

An Important Part of Ghana's History

Fort St. Jago: An Important Part of Ghana's History

On a hill looking out over the town of Elmina [Ghana], you'll find Fort St. Jago. Built by the Dutch in 1660, it has been known under various names like Fort Coenraadsburg, Conradsburg or Fort São Tiago da Mina, depending on who owned it over time. This old fort has seen a lot of changes over the years. It's a great place to visit if you want to learn about the area's history and culture.

A bit of history

Initially fort St. Jago was a fortified chapel built by the Portuguese. In 1637 burned to the ground by the Dutch who placed large guns on the hill and forced the surrender of St. George Castle. To avoid the same faith as the Portuguese the Dutch built fort St. Jago on this hill, opposite Elmina Castle to protect and defend Elmina (St. George) Castle.

Elmina Castle was a major hub in the transatlantic slave trade. Unlike Elmina Castle , which was primarily used for trading purposes, Fort St. Jago served a more defensive role. Its strategic location on a hill provided a vantage point to monitor and defend against potential threats from both land and sea.

The fort was always well protected by large garrisons, and often served as a prison for European convicts. It has been used as a prison, hospital and rest house. Today it is in good condition and is now an inn and a restaurant.

Over time, Fort St. Jago has become more than just an old building. It shows how European countries tried to control Africa, but also how strong African people were in facing these challenges. The fort's thick walls and strong design tell us about old military ways, but they also remind us of how local people stood up to hard times.

A Story About the Fort: Kwame the Storyteller

There's a nice story about a man named Kwame who lived in Elmina in the early 20th century. Kwame was a fisherman who loved the fort. When he was young, his grandfather, who used to work at the fort, told him many stories about it.

One day, Kwame saw that many kids didn't know much about the fort. He decided to start telling them the stories about it, just like his grandfather did for him. Soon, both kids and adults would come to listen to Kwame's stories about Fort St. Jago. People started calling him the "Guardian of St. Jago" because he helped keep the fort's history alive.

Visiting Fort St. Jago today

If you visit Fort St. Jago now, you can still feel its long history. As you walk through its old halls and look out over its walls, you can imagine what life was like there long ago. The view from the fort is beautiful - you can see the town of Elmina and the ocean.