Elmina

The site of Fort St George, near Cape Coast, Ghana. It was built by the Portuguese in 1482, mainly for control of the lucrative gold trade between the so-called Gold Coast and Portugal, and became one of several such forts along this part of the coast of West Africa.

It was captured by the Dutch in 1637 and remained in their hands until 1872, when it was ceded to the British. During this period it was involved in the slave trade. The castle at Elmina is well preserved as a local headquarters for the Ghanaian police, with the dungeons (which previously held slaves prior to transit to North America) being developed as a tourist attraction.