Ussher Fort is a historic coastal fortification located in the Usshertown neighborhood of Jamestown, Accra, Ghana. Originally built by the Dutch West India Company in 1649 as Fort Crèvecœur, it was established as a trading post for gold and later became a major hub in the transatlantic slave trade. The fort changed hands during various colonial conflicts and was heavily damaged by an earthquake in 1862. In 1868, it was transferred to the British, who rebuilt it and renamed it after the administrator of the Gold Coast, Herbert Taylor Ussher. Throughout the 20th century, the British and post-independence Ghanaian governments utilized the fort as a maximum-security prison. Today, it is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and houses a museum dedicated to slavery and local maritime history.

Why You Should Visit

Visiting Ussher Fort offers a sobering, multi-layered look into Ghana's complex colonial evolution and human rights history, bridging the eras of the slave trade and modern political struggles. Ussher Fort’s extensive transformation into a 20th-century political prison adds a unique narrative of resilience and national liberation. Walking through its rugged walls allows you to trace where historic anti-colonial figures were held and to explore the deeply moving artifact collections housed inside its renovated museum rooms.