Description of the attraction
Fort Christianborg, or Osu Castle, was built in the Osu area of Accra, on the coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The first solid fortress on this site was built by Denmark and Norway in the 1660s, later the castle belonged to Portugal and Great Britain, and after the proclamation of Ghana's independence it was reconstructed several times. Osu Castle was adjacent to the Dutch Fort Krevecourt and the British Fort James.
Around the village of Osu, the Danish-Norwegian kingdom bought the adjacent land, built a fortification, which was used as the capital of the colony for almost 200 years. In 1850, the British bought all of Denmark's property in the Gold Coast to prevent the strengthening of the positions of France and Belgium in this area. In 1862, an earthquake destroyed most of the upper floors, they were rebuilt, later the castle became the seat of the colonial government. In 1950, the wooden upper floors were reconstructed according to the original plans. With the formation of the independent Republic of Ghana in 1957, the status of the fort did not change; it was the home of the government and the residence of the governor-general.
Fort Christianborg was rebuilt many times, the last significant additions were made in 1961 in connection with the visit of Elizabeth II. The castle has hosted many guests, including Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Today, it houses medical offices, a café and a government post office. Since 2007, there has been a debate in parliament about the transfer of the presidential palace to a new building, for the construction of which a $ 50 million loan was taken.
For most of history, the fortress was the seat of the government of Ghana, with some interruptions. The most recent, until January 2009, was occupied by the administration of John Cafuor. Fort Christianborg also serves as the burial place of Ghanaian President John Atta Mills. The old fort is used for ceremonial and official receptions.
