Ghana – Forts, Castles, and Fantasy Coffins (West Africa Grand Expedition)
The Ghana leg (Days 49–52) includes St. Antonio Fort at Axim, UNESCO-listed Elmina Castle, Kumasi’s Ashanti Cultural Centre and Kejetia Market, and Accra’s James Town and fantasy coffin workshops. Key themes- Gold Coast forts, slave trade history, Ashanti heritage, and Ga funerary art.
Ghana was known to Europeans as the Gold Coast for centuries. Its coastline holds more than 80 forts and castles, once central to the trade of gold, ivory, and enslaved people. Inland, the Ashanti Kingdom flourished as one of Africa’s most powerful empires. Today, Ghana combines this complex history with dynamic cities and distinctive cultural traditions.
FAQ: Why was Ghana once called the Gold Coast?
The Portuguese named the area the Gold Coast in the 15th century due to its abundance of gold. The name was changed to Ghana at independence in 1957, referencing the medieval Ghana Empire.
Gold Coast Castles
We cross from Ivory Coast into Ghana and travel to Axim. Here we visit St. Antonio Fort, built by the Portuguese in 1515 near the Ankobra River estuary. This fort is one of the earliest European strongholds in West Africa, built to secure access to gold-rich trade routes.
Over three centuries, more than 80 forts were constructed along Ghana’s coast by the Portuguese, Dutch, British, and Danes, each shifting from trading gold and ivory to enslaved people. This concentration of European-built forts is unmatched elsewhere in Africa.
Evening arrival at Anomabu Beach Resort, our base for two nights.
FAQ: How many slave forts exist along Ghana’s coast today?
Over 30 remain, with several restored and open to the public, including Elmina and Cape Coast castles.
Elmina’s UNESCO Heritage
From Cape Coast we continue to Elmina Castle, built in 1482 as Sao Jorge da Mina. Originally a gold-trading post, it became a key warehouse for the transatlantic slave trade. Expanded over centuries, the castle is now recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
We walk through its chambers, dungeons, and ramparts, a stark reminder of the millions trafficked through its gates. Outside, Elmina’s fishing harbour buzzes with hundreds of brightly painted wooden canoes, linking past and present uses of the sea.
FAQ: What is the significance of Elmina Castle today?
Elmina Castle serves as both a UNESCO heritage monument and a memorial to victims of the slave trade, attracting visitors, researchers, and descendants of the African diaspora.
Kumasi and the Ashanti Kingdom
We travel inland to Kumasi, the historic capital of the Ashanti Kingdom. At its height in the 18th and 19th centuries, Ashanti power extended across much of modern Ghana until British annexation in 1896. Today, the Asantehene (King of Ashanti) remains a key cultural leader, and rituals of kingship continue.
Kumasi, now a city of over three million people, is home to Kejetia Market, one of the largest in Africa, where Ashanti crafts such as Kente cloth, carved stools, and brass weights are sold. We visit the Ashanti Cultural Centre, where collections of regalia, ceremonial objects, and reconstructed architecture explain the legacy of Ashanti governance and spirituality.
FAQ: Can visitors meet Ashanti chiefs in Kumasi?
Yes. With arrangements, visitors may be received by chiefs or sub-chiefs in ceremonial settings, where traditions of authority and hospitality are maintained.
Ghana’s Capital, Accra
The expedition concludes Ghana’s leg in Accra, a metropolis of over 5 million people. In James Town, one of the oldest districts, we see colonial-era buildings, lighthouses, and evidence of the slave trade era, while meeting members of the indigenous Ga people.
Accra is also known for its fantasy coffin workshops, where carpenters design coffins shaped like animals, vehicles, or symbols of a person’s life. These coffins are widely exhibited internationally as examples of Ghanaian creativity and funerary art.
Evening is spent in Osu, Accra’s energetic district, with the option to experience local music bars.
FAQ: What are Ghana’s fantasy coffins?
Fantasy coffins are hand-carved wooden coffins created in imaginative shapes. They are used in Ga funerals and reflect the deceased’s life, profession, or aspirations.
What Are the Must-Visit Places in Ghana?
Antonio Fort (Axim) – Portuguese-built fort from 1515
Elmina Castle – UNESCO World Heritage Site, built in 1482
Cape Coast – Another major slave trade fort town
Kumasi – Capital of the Ashanti Kingdom, home to Kejetia Market
Accra – Capital city with Ga heritage and fantasy coffin traditions
What Historical and Cultural Facts Should Travellers Know About Ghana?
- Ghana was the first sub-Saharan African colony to gain independence (1957).
- 80+ European forts were built along its coast between the 15th–19th centuries.
- Elmina Castle is the oldest European building in Africa.
- The Ashanti Kingdom remains influential in Ghanaian cultural and political life.
- Fantasy coffins are a recognised form of contemporary Ghanaian art.
Want to See the Full Route?
This was only Days 49–52.
Forward Travel’s 56-day West Africa Grand Expedition covers –
Morocco
Western Sahara
Mauritania
Senegal
Gambia
Guinea-Bissau
Guinea
Sierra Leone
Liberia
Ivory Coast
Ghana
Togo
Benin
If you’re curious to follow the full journey or want to join a future departure, get in touch.
Upcoming Departures
9 November 2026
View the Expedition Page – Have a question, get in touch with the team.