Behind the famous Elmina Castle stands a lesser-known but historically significant structure, Fort Jago.

Unlike the castle across the hill, the fort tells a very different story about the colonial presence in Elmina.

During an interview on GhanaWeb TV’s Ghana Month series, journalist Etsey Atisu toured the fort with local guide Emmanuel, who explained that the structure was never used for the transatlantic slave trade.

According to the guide, the fort was built by the Netherlands in 1665 after they captured Elmina from Portugal.

The Dutch had fought the Portuguese several times before finally gaining control of the castle.

After their victory, they constructed the fort on a nearby hill as a strategic military post to guard against future attacks.

Emmanuel explained that the location of the fort was deliberate, as its elevated position allowed soldiers to keep watch over the surrounding area and the castle below.

He noted that the fort was strictly used as a military base where soldiers lived and carried out security duties.

“There are no dungeons here,” he said during the tour. “Only the soldiers were here, as from the top of the hill they were able to monitor the surroundings to see whatever might come.”

The guide added that the rooms within the fort served as living quarters for the soldiers, along with spaces for cooking, storing weapons, and keeping supplies.

“This is their kitchen where they cook. All the rooms you see around are the rooms for the soldiers,” he said.

He further explained that the facility functioned mainly as a defensive outpost to ensure that the Dutch did not suffer the same fate as the Portuguese, who had lost control of the castle after repeated attacks.

Because of this purpose, Fort Jago did not operate like many other colonial structures along Ghana’s coast that were linked to the slave trade.

Instead, it served as a strategic watchpoint, enabling soldiers to monitor both the land and sea while protecting the castle.

Today, Fort Jago remains one of the lesser-visited historical sites in Elmina, overshadowed by the nearby castle. However, its story offers a unique perspective on the military strategies used by European powers during their time on the Gold Coast.

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