Gwollu Slave Defence Wall

The Gwollu Defence Wall, also called the Gwollu Slave Defence Wall, is a 19th-century mud-and-brick wall in Gwollu, in the Sissala West District of Ghana's Upper West Region. The Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, which manages the site as a monument, records that it was built by Gwollu Koro Limann as a defence against slave traders for the town's residents, and describes it as one of many relics of the slave trade in the region.

The wall stands in a landscape shaped by the slave-raiding era. Accounts describe violent raids in the wider area led by the warlords Babatu and Samori, and say two walls were raised — one protecting homes in the community, another encircling farms and water sources. Construction is believed to have taken roughly 10 to 25 years for each wall, and neither was completed. The walls were abandoned after the Atlantic slave trade was abolished, although local slave traders remained a problem; only the portion around Gwollu survives.

The wall sits immediately beside the chief's palace, and a section is fenced and roofed for protection. No visitor centre, toilets, shop or parking is documented, and no fixed entrance fee is published; a first-hand visitor account describes a small donation requested for upkeep. Local guides and community protocols govern visits, and permission is arranged by greeting the Paramount Chief of Gwollu. Nearby Gwollu has basket making, weaving and blacksmithing.

Gwollu lies about 70 km north of Wa, in a remote area near Ghana's northern border with Burkina Faso. The route described is Navrongo to Tumu to Gwollu — roughly 150 km over poor roads, taking 4 to 5 hours by private vehicle and potentially 8 hours or more by local buses and trotros. Public transport is limited, so hiring a private car is advised. Visitors are advised to confirm road conditions, guide availability and community protocols before travelling, and to avoid climbing on fragile sections.