Fort Orange, Ghana

Fort Orange is a fort located in Sekondi, Western Region, Ghana. Built by the Dutch in 1642, it was originally established as a trading lodge. The site was enlarged into a full fort in 1690 to support the growing European trade and to provide protection against local conflicts and rival European powers.
It is situated adjacent to the English-built Fort Sekondi, which was constructed in 1682. The fort was transferred to British control in 1872 along with the rest of the Dutch Gold Coast holdings, following the Anglo-Dutch treaty of that year.

History

Fort Orange was first constructed as a lodge in 1642 by the Dutch West India Company to facilitate trade along the Gold Coast. During the 1670s, it operated as a trading post before being expanded into a fort in 1690. In September 1694, the fort was attacked by the Ahantas, which prompted reinforcement and remodeling of the structure to a full-fledged fortification by 1704.

Current situation

Fort Orange used to serve as a lookout post but currently serves as a naval base for the Ghana Ports and Harbor Authority.

Significance

Fort Orange is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site listing for the Forts and Castles of Ghana