St George’s Castle, Ghana

Saint George's Castle, in the coastal town of Elmina, Ghana, is the oldest European-built structure in sub-Saharan Africa. It was constructed in the late 15th century by the Portuguese to protect their gold-trading post at Elmina from European competitors and African powers. The castle was captured in the 17th century by the Dutch and became a major slave trading centre, servicing the Atlantic slave trade until the 19th century.

Liba Taylor/Panos Pictures

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Atlantic Slave Trade; Ghana

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