Us - The Cooper's, The Haw's and Sister Taylor
on top of  Jamestown Lighthouse.

January 24 - A Trip to Jamestown

Jamestown is located east of the Korle Lagoon and is the oldest district in the city of Accra.  The communities emerged around the 17th century when the British built the James Fort.  Today Jamestown remains a fishing community and is inhabited primarily by the Ga.  It is really in a state of decay.  The district is a popular tourist destination if you want to see the remnants of Accra's colonial past.

The first place that we visited was the Jamestown Lighthouse, it was built by the British at James Fort in 1871.  However, it was replaced in the 1930's by the current Accra Light, which is 93 feet tall with a visibility of 16 nautical miles.  We went with three other couples, The Haws, the Taylors and the Coopers.

This was our guide - his name Nice-One
He met us and helped us get into the Parking Lot

This is Sister Taylor and Sister Haws

This the Lighthouse

We had to pay to get inside the Lighthouse, I took a picture of two Ghanian Women sitting on the bench outside of the Lighthouse.  Sometimes, they do not like you to take their pictures.

The two Ghanain Women

The Light is on for 12 Hours and then off for 12 Hours
It is run by a battery

The Stairs inside the Lighthouse - when you get near the top you have to go
up a ladder and squeeze through a small opening

From the top you could see the city of Accra

Looking towards the sea - you could see the fishing village and the boats
Look how run-down it is - It would be awful to live there.

This is Fort James from atop the lighthouse

The people often dry their clothes on the sand.  I can't figure out why they don't blow away.

This was the first Hotel in Jamestown

Walking from the Lighthouse to Fort James,, we passed by some Cool Art Work

It is amazing some of their talents.

The Jamestown Palace

Right by the lighthouse and the James Fort is the old Palace, where the king of Ghana lived.

Accra has been Ghana's capital since 1877, and is today one of the most populated and fast growing Metropolis of Africa.  Accra is from the Akan "nkran" meaning "an army of ants".  It is apparent that the name is attributed to the thousands of anthills, which dotted the Accra plains.

Fort James was built by the British in 1673.  It was built because of the Port and also the slave trade.  Ghana is the place that almost all slaves were brought to for export around the world.  Fort James was converted into a prison and there were prisoners there until the year 2007.

The Doors to the Prison

Kent & Elder Haws waiting for the doors to open

These were our guides in the Fort

This is the courtyard where the slaves were auctioned before being shipped  around the world
It was often called the Door of No Return

There were these hook  in the floor, where they were chained

I should have turned this around, but it was a tombstone on the wall of a young British soldier who died in 1820
The often died of the tropical diseases that were in Africa, such as Malaria

This was one of the cells.  There were often up to ten prisoners in one cell.

Some of the Cell doors were written on - the was a Cry for Freedom

Coming out of one of the cells was this chicken - Maybe a last meal!!

This was the courtyard - it may not look bad, but it truly awful and falling apart.

This is the kitchen or where the meals were cooked

It States - "We live with experience - Cell 6 - Eat What 'U' Get

The Toilet Facilities

The Showers

There was also a woman's side of the prison - this was their kitchen

The Women's courtyard

Their Showers

Imagine being able to see this everyday, but never be able to leave.  Many of these people were not
even guilty of any crimes - but were kept in the prison for over three years.

It was a very interesting day - but I was very happy to be out of the Fort.  They want to fix it up for a museum, but they have a very long ways to go.  Afterwards, we went to a very nice hotel and had lunch.
It was a very fun day.