Why You Must Visit Cape Coast Castle

Exiting the dungeon at Cape Coast Castle. 

Those in the African-American community seem to be the ones who visit Ghana's slave forts in highest numbers.  I don't know the statistics, but from the number of times I've entered these dungeons, I always observe a large percentage of the visitors, were from the United States. 


The history of Ghana's slave forts dotted along the country's coastline goes back over 400 years.  Many of the forts (dubbed castles), have changed hands a number of times over the centuries when colonizers from the British, to Dutch, to Danish, and Portuguese.  Two of the most visited are the Cape Coast Castle, and Elmina.  These were said to have housed the most enslaved Africans to be transported to the Americas.  In that, the door of no return, where the captured would pass through and no longer return home.

Standing outside the 'door of no return'.

On the other side of the door is now written, 'Door of Return' giving a strong significance for those who have made that journey back to the shores of Africa. The people who's ancestors passed through these doors represent the resilience and the survival of a strong people. 

Ghana's government has said that never again should this happen. It was a tragic part of our history and now we are turning it around by welcoming all people of African descent to come home. 

The door of return, welcoming our brothers and sisters of the diaspora home.