Explore Ghana
The Central Region is where Ghana's past sits closest to the sea. Along this stretch of coast you can walk through Elmina Castle (St. George's Castle), a Portuguese-founded castle and museum on its promontory, then stand in the quiet of the Dutch Cemetery in Elmina, established in 1806 and holding about seventy interments. Further along, the ruined English Fort Komenda and Fort Vredenburg face each other across the Komenda River, while Fort Patience looks out over the fishing harbour at Apam and Fort Good Hope at Senya Beraku has been restored as a rest house and bed-and-breakfast.
What these places share is the Atlantic shoreline and centuries of trade, defence and memory. They differ in condition and in mood: some are UNESCO-listed, some are cared for by the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board, and some are ruins. Inland and in town, the story widens. Assin Kushea Palace, seat of the Owirenkyi paramount chief, is reported as the biggest palace in West Africa. The Dontsin No.3 Company Posuban Shrine in Anomabo, outdoored in 1948 and rebuilt in 1966, and the Effutu Community Sacred Forest near Winneba, kept by the Effutu for over 300 years, show heritage that is still lived.
Good to know
Plan your days around the coast road, grouping Elmina, Cape Coast and Anomabo together, and treating Komenda, Apam and Senya Beraku as a separate run. Assin Kushea and Winneba sit inland or off the main coastal line, so give them their own half-day. Before setting out, check opening arrangements and access with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board for the forts and castles, and with local custodians for the palace, shrine and sacred forest, as some sites are ruins, some are in use, and some are customary spaces. Carry water, wear shoes you can walk in, and ask before photographing people or ceremonies.
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Attraction · Elmina
A public, non-denominational colonial burial ground in Elmina, established in 1806 and holding about 70 interments, including Dutch officials and Elmina King Nana Kobina Gyan.
Photo: Fentener van Vlissingen · Source
Attraction · Elmina
St. George's Castle, commonly called Elmina Castle, is a 1482 Portuguese-founded castle and museum on a promontory at Elmina in Ghana's Central Region, listed by UNESCO.
Photo: Adam Jones from Kelowna, BC, Canada · Source
Attraction · Komenda
English Fort Komenda is a ruined British Gold Coast fort on the Komenda River in Ghana's Central Region, part of a UNESCO World Heritage property and in GMMB custody.
Photo: Flixtey · Source
Attraction · Senya Beraku
Fort Good Hope (Fort de Goede Hoop) is a restored Dutch coastal fort at Senya Beraku, Central Region, Ghana, now a rest house, bed-and-breakfast and visitor attraction.
Photo: Nandi D · Source
Attraction · Apam
Dutch-built Fort Patience (Fort Lijdzaamheid) stands on a promontory at Apam, Central Region, overlooking the fishing harbour and Gulf of Guinea coast.
Photo: Street4kingz · Source
Attraction · Komenda
Fort Vredenburgh is a ruined 1682 Dutch fort on the Komenda River at Dutch Komenda, Central Region, inscribed as UNESCO World Heritage in 1979.
Photo: Flixtey · Source
Attraction · Anomabo
Fort William is a British trading fort at Anomabo in Ghana's Central Region, built from 1753, later a prison, and now in the custody of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board.
Photo: Fquasie · Source
Attraction · Assin Kushea
Assin Kushea Palace is the seat of the Owirenkyi paramount chief in Assin Kushea, Central Region, reported as the biggest palace in West Africa.
Attraction · Anomabo
An Asafo company posuban shrine in Anomabu, Central Region, outdoored in 1948 and rebuilt in 1966, attributed to artist Kwamina Amoaku.
Attraction · Winneba
A communal sacred forest and customary hunting ground near Winneba, Central Region, maintained by the Effutu for over 300 years and central to the annual Aboakyir festival.
Attraction · Cape Coast
The Gothic House, or PWD building, is a 19th-century Gothic Revival landmark in Cape Coast, Central Region, tied to the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society.
Attraction · Komenda
Komenda Sugar Factory is a dormant state-owned sugar plant in Komenda, Central Region, Ghana, cited as a landmark of industrial heritage.
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