Slave Castles, Ghana

While in Ghana we visited some castles/forts that were built several centuries ago by the Dutch, British and Portuguese. Originally they were used as military outposts and trading stations for gold, pepper, weapons and other merchandise.

Tragically the Europeans soon realized slaves were a valuable commodity and began capturing West Africans to sell to plantations in the Caribbean and the Americans. The slaves were "stored" in these forts, crammed into filthy, dark dungeons for 2-3 months before being forced through the "door of no return," which took them to the ships that sailed to the "new world."

It was very interesting and sobering to visit these castles, which are now UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

(the door of no return)