Fort Amsterdam, the only fort visible from the highway in Abandze, Central Region, has played a significant role in Ghana’s history, contributing to the country’s culture, customs, and traditions.
During the era when Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast, was rich in gold, the British built the fort as a hub for their gold trade, ensuring smooth and efficient operations.
However, this vision was short-lived. After 33 years of successful business transactions along the Mankessim-Cape Coast Highway, the Dutch attacked and overpowered the British, seizing control of the fort.
The Dutch drove the British out of Ghana, destroyed their businesses, and took over the fort for their own interests. What was once a warehouse for gold was transformed into a slave dungeon, where innocent lives were subjected to inhumane conditions for over 200 years.
People were maltreated, lives were lost, and properties were destroyed as the Dutch imposed their rule. The suffering continued until the fort was eventually traded back to the British after years of brutal oppression under Dutch control.
From ‘Cormantine’ to Fort Amsterdam
The fort, originally built by the British in 1611, was first named “Fort Cormantine” or “Cormantin Fort.” However, in 1665, after capturing it from the British, the Dutch renamed it “Fort Amsterdam” after the city of Amsterdam in the Netherlands.
Under Dutch rule, the fort became a key trading post for gold, ivory, and slaves, playing a crucial role in the transatlantic slave trade. It was one of many forts and castles built by European powers along the West African coast during the colonial era.
In an exclusive interview with GhanaWeb’s Etsey Atisu, tour guide Joseph Kofi Kakraba revealed that Fort Amsterdam was not originally built as a slave dungeon and had only one exit when first constructed by the British.
“The fort had no dungeon and only one exit. It is the biggest fort built by the British in 1611 for trade, not slavery,” he stated.
He also highlighted important historical facts about the fort and encouraged tourists and residents to visit, learn more about its history, and pass down this knowledge to future generations.
Watch the video below:
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