James Fort (Ussher Fort)

James Fort, also known as Ussher Fort, is a 17th-century British colonial fortification located in the historic James Town neighborhood of Accra, near the Gulf of Guinea coast. Built in the 1660s by the British Royal African Company, it stands as one of three major European forts in Accra alongside Christiansborg Castle and Fort Crêvecoeur. The fort served various purposes from trading post to prison facility and remains an important heritage site documenting Ghana's colonial era and the trans-Atlantic trade period.

Constructed around 1673 by the British, James Fort was originally established as a trading post for gold, ivory, and later became involved in the slave trade along the Gold Coast. The fort was named after James, Duke of York, who later became King James II of England. During colonial rule and into the post-independence era, it functioned as a prison until the 2000s, housing political prisoners and common criminals, making it a witness to both colonial oppression and Ghana's struggle for independence.

• Built by the British Royal African Company in the 1660s-1670s, making it over 350 years old
• Named after James, Duke of York, brother of King Charles II who later became King James II of England
• Served as a prison facility for many decades, including during Ghana's colonial and post-independence periods until the early 2000s
• Located in James Town, one of Accra's oldest and most culturally vibrant neighborhoods known for its Ga community and boxing heritage
• Part of Ghana's coastal fort network that includes Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, and other UNESCO World Heritage Sites documenting the trans-Atlantic trade