Fort San Sebastian | |
---|---|
Part of Dutch Gold Coast | |
Fort San Sebastian in 1890.
|
|
Coordinates | 5°00′39″N 1°37′45″W / 5.010825°N 1.629199°W |
Site history | |
Built | 1523 |
Garrison information | |
Occupants | Portugal (1523-1642) Netherlands (1642-1872) |
Fort San Sebastian located in Shama, Ghana is the third oldest fortification in Ghana.
It was built by the Portuguese from 1520 to 1526 as a trading post in and captured by the Dutch West India Company in 1642. The original purpose of the fort was to serve as a deterrent to English sailors interfering in Shama trade. The first black European university professor, Anton Wilhelm Amo, lies interred in the fort's graveyard. The fort was ceded with the entire Dutch Gold Coast to Britain in 1872.
During the time of the African Slave Trade, kidnapped slaves were imprisoned here while awaiting transport to North America.
Fort St Sebastian - close up
View of the fort from a boat
View from the gate to the front part of the fort, in the back the main gate with stairs to Shama
View of Shama from the fort
The front part of the fort
Coordinates: 5°00′39″N 1°37′45″W / 5.010825°N 1.629199°W