Short History of Teshie and Fort Augustaborg
Fort Augustaborg was built by the Danes in 1787, making it the last European fort constructed on the Gold Coast. It was named after Prince Frederick of Augustenburg, a Danish royal, reflecting Denmark’s continued interest in West African trade during the late 18th century.
Fantasied coffin (c) Remo Kurka
The fort was established primarily for trade in gold, ivory, and later slaves, during a time when European powers had created a chain of forts along the coast. Though it came relatively late in the colonial fort-building period, Fort Augustaborg still played a role in the complex system of European presence and commerce in West Africa.
Cliffs at Cape Coast Castle. These are now covered below artificial rocks (c) Remo Kurka
In 1850, Denmark sold all its possessions on the Gold Coast, including Fort Augustaborg, to Britain, which then incorporated it into the British colony.
Today, the remains of Fort Augustaborg still stand in Teshie, serving as a historical site that reflects the lesser-known Danish colonial presence in Ghana. Though not as large or visited as Elmina or Cape Coast Castle, it remains a quiet symbol of Ghana’s rich and complex colonial past.