Fort Elmina

Elmina Castle (also ''St. George El Mina Castle''; in Portuguese ''Castelo de São Jorge de Mina'') was built in 1482 by the Portuguese as the first trading post in the Gulf Of Guinea at present-day Elmina , Ghana .

The construction was the result of an expedition commanded by the King Afonso V Of Portugal and led by Diogo De Azambuja , who departed from Lisbon on December 12, 1481 , with eleven ships and 700 men. Diogo de Azambuje remained as captain of the fort (controlling the area around it) until 1484 .
The main interest of the Portuguese was to gain control over the gold trade of Mina.

With the rise of the Atlantic Slave Trade the fort gained importance as a depot where slaves were held captive before being transported to the New World .

In 1637 the fort was taken over by the Dutch , who made it the capital (also called Fort Conraadsburg, St. Jago, Fort de Veer, Fort Java, Fort Scomarus, and Fort Naglas) of Dutch Guinea .

In 1872 it was taken by the British .

It is reported to be the oldest existent European building south of the Sahara . The Castle was built using a mixture of Portuguese and Dutch styles. The castle is recognized by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Monument . It was extensively restored by the Ghanean Government in the 1990s.

Other Slave Castles include Cape Coast Castle and Castle Saint Jago .

SOURCES AND REFERENCES

(incomplete)

WorldStatesmen- Ghana

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Fort Elmina