Fort William, previously known as Fort Anomabo, is located in Anomabu, Central Region, Ghana. The fort is situated about 22 kilometers to Cape Coast, where the Cape Coast Castle located.
The fort was built by the British in 1753 following the failure of the French to establish their own fort at the same location.
The fort was originally constructed as a response to two previous forts that were established by the Dutch in 1640 and by the English in 1674 (Fort Charles). Fort Charles was abandoned in 1730 and eventually destroyed. In the 19th century, the fort was renamed Fort William by its commander, Brodie Cruickshank, who added an extra floor to the main building during King William IV’s reign.
Fort William, along with several other castles and forts in Ghana, was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 for its significance in and testimony to the Atlantic slave trade.
History of Fort William
The history of Fort William in Anomabu, Ghana dates back to 1640 when the Dutch built a simple fort, which was later captured by the Swedes in 1653, the Danes in 1657, and then recaptured by the Dutch in 1659 or 1660.
After the Treaty of Breda, the English took over and built Fort Charles in 1672 or 1673, which was later abandoned in 1730. In 1753, the British African Company of Merchants built Fort William after preventing the French from establishing a fort at the same location.
It was designed by military engineer John Apperly, who became its first governor, and completed by Irishman Richard Brew in 1760. Fort William became the center of British slave trading on the Gold Coast until the slave trade was abolished in 1807.
Today, the remains of Fort William can still be seen and is a popular tourist destination in Anomabu.
The table below shows the entrance fee for visitors;
| Visitor Category | Entrance Fee |
| Pupils from Primary to JHS 3 | GH¢ 0.50 |
| SHS Students | GH¢ 1.00 |
| Tertiary Students with ID | GH¢ 2.00 |
| Ghanaian Adults | GH¢ 5.00 |
| Foreign Children | USD 2.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis |
| Foreign Students with ID | USD 7.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis |
| Adult Foreigners | USD 10.00 or its equivalent in Ghana cedis |
*Entrance fees were reviewed in February 2013, however, you are recommended to contact their number for an update on the entry cost.
Contact
Tel +233-3321 32529
Watch videos of the Forts and Castles in Ghana here.
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