Fort Groot Friedrichsburg
Perched on a hill overlooking the stunningly beautiful Princess Town beach lies a Prussian-built stone fort , an incongruous sight amid tropical bush . Completed in 1685 it is one of approximately 60 forts and castles along Ghana ’ s coast which bear testimony today to the abhorrent slave trade which scarred West Africa so deeply .
Fort Groot Friedrichsburg is unusual in being the only fort with German connections in Ghana . In 1682 a group of European financiers established the Brandenburg Africa Company under the patronage of the Great Elector Frederick William of Brandenburg . The following year two of the company ’ s ships landed at Pokesu ( the original name for Princess Town or Prince ’ s Town as it ’ s also called ). The Ahanta Chief of Pokesu ceded them the promontory on which the fort now stands in exchange for their protection against the Dutch and other slave traders . Contemporary visitors to the area regarded the Fort , named after the Frederick William , as one of the most impressive buildings on the coast . Around 1716 , however , the Brandenburgers abandoned the fort when they learnt that their own land in Germany had been severely flooded so they returned to help their kinsfolk rebuild houses and businesses . Chief John Conny , who was by then a merchant at the helm of a major trade network in the area , took control of the Fort but was later to lose it to the Dutch . Eventually the British took control in 1872 . Today the imposing stone building has been partially restored and now serves as a tourist attraction . It ’ s even possible to spend the night in the Governor ’ s former quarters or to sleep out on the roof though mosquito nets would be advisable !
The Fort ’ s guide and caretaker , Joseph Akye Mensah , has worked there for 22 years and has a wealth of knowledge to impart about the building itself and the relationship which has evolved between Princess Town and Germany . In addition he ’ s a great cook and with some prior notice will concoct a delicious meal which you can enjoy on top of the Fort as you look down to the beach , bush and town . You can also take a relaxed canoe trip on the nearby Ehunli Lagoon or the Nyan River through large mangrove formations . Trained tour guides will help you spot monkeys in the trees and point out some of the aquatic creatures who live in the waters such as red , blue and yellow crabs . To get to Princess Town from Takoradi follow the signs for Elubo . After Agona continue driving towards Elubo and after 13 kilometres you will see a sign for the turn off to Princess Town on the left . The road is then unsealed and it ’ s about a 30-40 minute drive ( a 4 x 4 is a good idea during the rainy season ) to Princess Town itself .
For more information see the Ghana West Coast website : www . ghanawestcoast . com Joseph Akye Mensah can be contacted on : 024 326 9469
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