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Fort Ussher, Accra

Explore a collection of historical photographs and detailed information about Cape Coast and the Gold Coast - MORE HERE -

Looking for more than just a vacation? Whether you're in Ghana for a quick escape or an extended adventure, our guided tours are designed to take you beyond the ordinary and deep into the heart of the country’s wild beauty and powerful history. - Learn More Here -

Fort Ussher and Ussher Town together represent a microcosm of Ghana's colonial and postcolonial trajectory. The fort itself is a symbol of European imperial ambition, the transatlantic slave trade, and subsequent British administrative control. - Read More Here -

Cape Coast Castle, a massive stone fort that served as the headquarters for British colonial trade on the West African coast. Just west of it stands Elmina Castle, built in 1482 by the Portuguese and recognized as the oldest European building in sub-Saharan Africa. - Learn More Here -

DNA Breakthrough Traces 17th-Century Enslaved Africans to Their Homelands. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the study marks a major advance in efforts to uncover the precise origins of the 12 million Africans forcibly transported to the Americas between 1500 and 1850.  - Read More Here -

These structures form the largest concentration of European-built forts and castles in Africa, serving as powerful reminders of Ghana’s role in centuries of global trade—including the transatlantic slave trade  - Read More Here -

YEAR OF RETURN’ DRAWS THOUSANDS TO GHANA’S STAND AT VAKANTIEBEURS  - Read More Here -

His first trip to Ghana was between January 5 to January 22, 2015, and the Year of Return marked personally his 5th anniversary visiting Ghana.  - Read More Here -

Despite the British dominance along the coast, they encountered strong resistance from the powerful Ashanti Kingdom located inland. The Ashanti were themselves deeply involved in the regional slave trade, capturing and selling war captives and rivals to European traders.  - Read More Here -

Situated in the western part of Cape Coast Township, Fort Victoria was strategically built as a watchtower and signaling post, offering wide visibility across the surrounding area, including the Atlantic Ocean.  - Read More Here -

Situated in Cape Coast Township, Fort William was strategically built as a defending watchtower , offering wide visibility across the surrounding area, including the Atlantic Ocean.  - Read More Here -

In 1979, Fort Komenda—along with over 30 other forts and castles along the Ghanaian coast—was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.  - Read More Here -

The construction of Fort Royal occurred during a period of intense European rivalry on the West African coast, particularly in the 17th and 18th centuries.  - Read More Here -

Fort Ussher: A Historical Overview


(c) Remo Kurka photography / View inside a cell block, build by the British, during British Gold Coast

Fort Ussher was constructed by the Dutch in 1649 on the Gold Coast, in present-day Old Accra, Ghana. Originally named Fort Crèvecœur, which translates to "Broken Heart" in French, it was established as a trading post and military stronghold during the competitive era of European expansion focused on the Atlantic slave trade and local commerce in gold, ivory, and other goods.

The fort was part of a triad of European forts in the region, alongside Fort James (British) and Christiansborg Castle (Danish), all built to dominate trade routes and coastal territories in what was then referred to as the Dutch Gold Coast.
Transition to British Control - In 1868, the Anglo-Dutch Gold Coast Treaty facilitated a territorial exchange between the British and the Dutch, strengthening their spheres of influence along the coast.
As a result of this treaty, Fort Crèvecœur was ceded to the British, who renamed it Fort Ussher, likely in honor of Herbert Taylor Ussher, a British administrator in the Gold Coast at the time.

Function under British Rule - Under British rule, Fort Ussher evolved from a trading post into a colonial administrative outpost and military installation.
At various times, it also served as a prison, particularly during the colonial period and extending into the post-independence era. The prison garnered a reputation for harsh conditions, housing many prominent political prisoners, including Kwame Nkrumah prior to independence.


Fort Ussher and Ussher Town are powerful reminders of Ghana’s layered history—marked by trade, colonization, resistance, and cultural continuity. The fort itself stands as a monument to the era of European imperialism, the transatlantic slave trade, and colonial military control. Ussher Town, in contrast, reflects the dynamic and adaptive spirit of the Ga people, who have weathered centuries of foreign intervention while maintaining their identity.

Their story is not just one of historical interest, but of ongoing relevance, as debates about heritage preservation, urban development, and cultural survival continue to shape the future of Accra’s oldest neighborhoods.

Ussher Town: Historical

  • Ussher Town (formerly known as Dutch Accra) developed around the fort and was one of the three original quarters of Accra, the others being James Town (British Accra) and Osu/Christiansborg (Danish Accra).

  • The community was established and largely inhabited by Ga people, the indigenous ethnic group in the Accra area, although European influence quickly became pervasive.

  • Over time, a Creole or Afro-European elite culture developed in Ussher Town, with families of mixed African and European descent forming an important part of local trade and politics.

    • Urban and Social

  • Ussher Town, like neighboring James Town, developed a distinct urban layout characterized by narrow streets, family compounds, and colonial buildings.

  • It became a hub for commerce, fishing, and artisanal crafts, particularly Ga cultural expressions such as drumming, choral music, and traditional festivals.

  • The fishing industry, especially along the coast, remains a major economic activity to this day, with canoe fishing being central to livelihoods in the area.

    • Ussher Town and Colonial History

  • Ussher Town is part of Ga Mashie, the historical core of Accra and the ancestral home of the Ga people.

  • It is associated with Homowo, the Ga people’s major festival celebrating the overcoming of famine — still celebrated with pomp, ritual, and community processions through the old city quarters.

  • Ga chiefs and traditional authorities continue to exert influence in the area, and chieftaincy plays a key role in the cultural preservation of the region.

    • Fort Ussher and Ussher Town today serve as a testament to Ghana’s rich and intricate colonial and cultural history.

    Fort Ussher Decline and Preservation Efforts

    After Ghana gained independence in 1957, Fort Ussher continued for some time as a detention center, but gradually fell into disuse and neglect. (and still is in neglect!)

    The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB) has since declared the fort a national heritage site, though preservation efforts have been inconsistent due to limited funding and urban encroachment.

    Today, it serves more as a historical monument and a reminder of the layered colonial past of Accra.

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