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In 1482 the Portuguese started to build a fort on the strategically local end of a narrow bounded by the ocean and the Benya River. The River provided a natural shelter harbor. The fort was build to protect the gold-rich land of ‘’El Mina’’, the mine. The construction of the fort according to the original plan was finished in 1486. Elmina castle was the first major European building in tropical Africa. The Portuguese enjoyed a trade boom in the 15th and 16th century. British, Italians, and French attempted to breach the Portuguese monopoly failed.
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For nearly a century there was a lot of competition among the European nations to gain control of the strategic location of Cape Coast, with his sheltered beach in proximity to Elmina castle.
The Portuguese where the first to build a trade lodge in 1555, which they called ‘’cabo corso”, the short cape.
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Christiansborg Castle Accra (Osu Castle) |
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The first lodge at Ursu, or Osu nowadays, was built by the Swedish African company in the 17th century. In 1657 the Swedish headquarter in Cape Coast was taken by the Danish, to what resulted in all the Swedish establishments, including the Osu lodge. In 1659 the Danish commandant was tricked with a story about Denmark being conquered and he sold the Swedish establishments, including the lodge to the Dutch.
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Located in the town of Akosombo, in the Eastern Region of Ghana, Afrikiko Resort boasts a beautiful water front delight. A sense of tranquility is evident from the ever green lawns, to the canopied walkways leading to lounge areas with magnificent views.
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