Header-photo (c) Remo Kurka: 1814 Dutch build police Station in Prampram. The fort is just nearby (checking for photos of the fort)
Fort Vernon was originally established in 1742 by the Royal African Company, one of the major British trading companies operating in West Africa during the height of European trade expansion.
Unlike some of the masonry-built coastal castles, Vernon was constructed using rather cheap materials: rough stones and “swish” (a mixture of local mud or clay) for walls, which meant from early on it had structural weaknesses. Because of its construction and location, it has been vulnerable to both natural decay and human neglect.
1742: Fort Vernon erected by the British to facilitate trade—including the transatlantic slave trade—with local coastal communities.
Before 1783: The fort was destroyed by the Danes. Some sources mention that around this time it fell into ruin.
1806: The British rebuilt Fort Vernon. This reconstruction was necessary to reassert their presence and control over coastal trade.
1811‑1816: Shortly after reconstruction, the fort began deteriorating. Reports indicate that by 1816, it was abandoned, falling into ruin.
1831‑1844: There was a brief reoccupation by the British during this period, but the structure was again abandoned around 1844. After that, it remained largely unused and decayed.
Over time, Fort Vernon lost its strategic importance and was overshadowed by the larger forts and castles in the region.
Today, what remains of Fort Vernon is little more than ruins: crumbling walls, structural fissures, eroded foundations. The site has not been maintained properly and suffers from environmental damage—rain, coastal moisture, and sea spray—and human neglect.
Local reports describe parts of the structure collapsing after heavy rainfall, and warn that uncontrolled erosion and weather exposure are accelerating the decay.
Additionally, the site's neglect is not only physical. It has been used as storage or informal shelter by local fishermen and fishmongers, rather than being preserved as heritage. Some parts are defaced with posters, graffiti, and are regarded more as derelict space than cultural monument.
Despite its ruinous state, Fort Vernon remains culturally and historically important for several reasons:
Early British trade outpost
Its establishment by the Royal African Company places it among the early British trading posts on the Gold Coast, entwined with both legal trades (like gold and textiles) and the slave trade.
Part of the UNESCO World Heritage serial listing
Fort Vernon is included among the many forts and castles in Ghana that constitute the “Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions” UNESCO World Heritage property. In the UNESCO State of Conservation Report, Vernon is listed among the ruins with visible structures.
Potential for tourism and education
If preserved, Fort Vernon could serve not just as a stop for tourists interested in colonial history and the Atlantic slave trade, but also as an educational resource for locals—schools, historians, and community storytellers. The proximity to Accra adds to its value.
Experts and heritage advocates warn that Fort Vernon is approaching a tipping point. Without immediate intervention, further structural loss is likely. There are calls for restoration work and protection, especially of the southern walls which are collapsing due to both weather and possible sea spray erosion.
Conservators also stress that preserving what remains will require both technical support (material conservation, stabilization of decaying walls) and community involvement—raising awareness, preventing vandalism, cleaning the site, and possibly integrating it into local tourism infrastructure. Administrative responsibility lies with the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board (GMMB), but resource constraints are a major obstacle.
Fort Vernon is no longer the stronghold it once was, but its stones still speak. Through its construction, destruction, reconstruction, and abandonment, it tells a layered tale of colonialism, trade, and decay. The ruin forces us to ask: what do we preserve, and why? For the people of Prampram—and for Ghana—it is a heritage asset in need of rescue, not just as a monument, but as a marker of identity, struggle, and memory.
Preserving Fort Vernon is about saving more than stone. It’s about safeguarding stories.