One positive impact of colonial rule on the development of Ghana is establishment of forts and castles to improve the housing systems in the country. The Colonial Masters built forts and castles along the coastal areas since it was their early settlement before they spread it through the width and length of the country.
Basically, the forts and castles built by the Colonial Masters were serving as Educational centers for the mollatoes, market center, place for worship and residence for the Governor who was in charge of the Colony.
There are numerous of castles built in Gold Coast but the popular ones are Elimina Castle, Osu Castle and Cape Coast Castle.
The Elimina Castle was established by the early Portuguese traders in the year 1482. It was then called Saint George’s Castle. It is the largest European structure in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a historical site for domestic and international tourists.
The Osu Castle also known as the Christianborg Castle was built by the Danes in the year 1660. It was a residence of the Gold Coast Governor, immediately after independence it became the Residence for the president of Ghana before it was moved to Jubilee House on March 6th, 2009.
The Cape Coast castle was also built by the Portuguese in the year 1659 and it was originally a trading Centre and a Slave center. It is located in Cape coast in the Central Region of Ghana.
List of Forts and Castles in Ghana with their respective locations
Fort Apollonia at Beyin
Fort St. Anthony at Axim
Fort Gross Friedricksburg at Princestown
Fort Dorothea at Akwida
Fort Metal Cross at Dixcove
Fort Batenstein at Butre
Fort Orange at Sekondi
Fort St. Sebastian at Shama
Fort Vendenburg, Komenda
Castle of St. George’s, Elmina
Fort St. Jago at Elmina
Cape Coast Castle
Fort Victoria at Cape Coast
Fort Royal at Cape Coast
Fort William at Cape Coast
Fort McCarthy at Cape Coast
Fort Fredericksburg at Amanful
Fort Nassau at Mouri
Fort William at Anomabu
The Little Fort at Anomabu
Fort Amsterdam at Abandzi
The Fort at Tantumquery
Fort Patience at Apam
Fort Good Hope at Senya Beraku
James Fort at Jamestown, Accra
Ussher Fort, Ussher Town, Accra
Christiansborg Castle at Osu, Accra
Fort Augustaborg at Teshie
Fort Vernon, Prampram
Fort Fredensborg at Old Ningo
Fort Prinzensten at Keta
Portugal, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Holland, Germany and Britain are the countries that built these castles and Forts for their religious and commercial purposes.