Fort Prinzenstein, Keta-1784

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Heritage sites in Volta Region

Fort Prinzenstein · Photo: Khobbyyyy · License: CC0 1.0 · Source

The Volta Region holds some of Ghana's most varied heritage, from a Danish fort on the coast at Keta to sacred caves in the hills above Ho. Fort Prinzenstein, a partly ruined 1784 Danish fort, is part of Ghana's UNESCO-listed forts and castles, while the Amedzofe Sacred Cave was formed from a cliff of Mount Gemi at Avatime Amedzofe. Along the shore, the Atorkor Slave Market and Atorkor Slave Park both carry 1999 memorials marking the Anlo village's role as a slave-trade port on the Upper Slave Coast.

What these places share is memory: migration, trade, justice and belief, held in stone, cliff and tree. They differ in setting and in how they are kept. Some are formal sites with monuments and museums, such as Fort Prinzenstein. Others are living traditional areas, including Anfoega Traditional Area in North Dayi District and Battor Traditional Area, known for its migration history and the annual Hogbeza festival at Dugame-Battor. Torkor Atorlia, the "fifth landing stage" at Anloga, was formerly the highest seat of traditional justice for the Anlo people.

Elsewhere the heritage is quieter and more natural. The Biakpa Old Baobab Tree is named as the main attraction in Biakpa, an Avatime village in Ho West District, and the Mafi-Avakpedome Ancestral Cave at Adidome is an undeveloped ancestral cave in Central Tongu District.

Good to know

Before you go

Plan around a few places rather than all nine, as they spread across several districts. Coastal sites such as Fort Prinzenstein at Keta, Atorkor and Anloga sit together, while Amedzofe, Biakpa, Anfoega and Battor lie further inland. Some sites are undeveloped or partly ruined, so check locally before travelling and ask at the community about access, guiding and any customs to observe at sacred or ancestral places. A festival such as Hogbeza at Dugame-Battor draws crowds, so confirm dates before you go. Carry water, wear sturdy shoes for cave and hill paths, and travel in daylight.

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Places to explore

Attraction · Keta

Fort Prinzenstein

Fort Prinzenstein is a partly ruined 1784 Danish fort at Keta in the Volta Region, part of Ghana's UNESCO-listed forts and castles.

Photo: Khobbyyyy · Source

Attraction

Attraction · Amedzofe

Amedzofe Sacred Cave

An ancient cave formed from a cliff of Mount Gemi at Avatime Amedzofe, one of two sacred sites in the Ho West District opened to tourism.

Attraction

Attraction · Anfoega

Anfoega Traditional Area

A traditional area and heritage site in the North Dayi District of Ghana's Volta Region, seated at Anfoega, the district capital.

Attraction

Attraction · Atorkor

Atorkor Slave Market

A coastal heritage site in Atorkor, Volta Region, where a 1999 memorial marks the village's role as a slave-trade port on the Upper Slave Coast.

Attraction

Attraction · Atorkor

Atorkor Slave Park

Atorkor Slave Park is a 1999 heritage memorial in the coastal Anlo village of Atorkor, Volta Region, marking the area's role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Attraction

Attraction · Battor

Battor Traditional Area

One of eight traditional areas in North Tongu District, Volta Region, known for its migration history and the annual Hogbeza festival at Dugame-Battor.

Attraction

Attraction · Biakpa

Biakpa Old Baobab Tree

The Old Baobab Tree is named as the main attraction in Biakpa, an Avatime village in the Ho West District of Ghana's Volta Region.

Attraction

Attraction · Adidome

Mafi-Avakpedome Ancestral Cave

An undeveloped ancestral cave and heritage site at Mafi-Avakpedome in the Central Tongu District, Volta Region, listed among the district's undeveloped tourist sites.

Attraction

Attraction · Anloga

Torkor Atorlia

Torkor Atorlia, the "fifth landing stage" at Anloga in the Volta Region, is a historic site that was formerly the highest seat of traditional justice for the Anlo people.

Wider area

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