Explore Cape Coast - Elmina in a brief( Roles in the slave trade)

The Assin Manso Slave Market stands as one of Ghana’s most poignant heritage sites, a place where history speaks with both sorrow and resilience. Located in the Central Region, the market was once a major holding and trading center for enslaved Africans before their final journey to the coast. Slaves from as far as northern Ghana and neighboring countries were auctioned and marched to Cape Coast and Elmina slave dungeons for shipment across the Atlantic. Your visit begins with a guided walk through the “Slave River,” a tranquil yet haunting site where enslaved men and women were bathed and allowed their last moments of rest before enduring the coastal trek. The experience is both moving and enlightening, offering deep insight into the human cost of the slave trade and the importance of remembering our shared history. The Assin Manso slave market and river site is not just a stop. It’s a moment of reflection, connection, and respect for those whose lives shaped the African diaspora.

Usually being called a castle instead of a slave duneon, it is one the youngest slave dungeons on the coast of sub-Saharan Africa when the land of Africa fell to the first Europeans. Unlike the Elmina slave dungeons, it has gone through the hands of many European powers like the Portugal, Sweden, Denmark, Netherlands and the British. Being infamous enough, it has a been a spot for well known documentaries on the trans Atlantic slave Trade.

Extending over an area of 375km2 inland of Cape Coast, Kakum Park protects the core of Ghana's largest remaining tract of rainforest. Aside its bird watching and hiking activities, one of the main attraction for most visitors is the canopy-walkway that rises above 40 meters above the forest floor. It was originally set aside as a forest reserve in 1931, it was designated as a national park in 1992, partly at the initiative of local communities. With an exceeding 200 per hectare plant species and 650 species of butterfly, it is one of the largest national parks in West Africa.

Built in 1482, before the USA was founded, it is the cradle of Catholicism in the Gold Coast, with the first Catholic church at its center. It is also the largest and the oldest European building in the whole of Sub-Saharan Africa. While the Cape Coast Slave Dungeon is known for its popular visits by American diplomats like ex President Obama and Kamala Harris, who recently visited, Elmina is known for its visit by American superstars like Steve Harvey, Samuel L. Jackson, and more. Worth visiting.

The Elmina Township itself is a little over 700 years old. After the tour of the Elmina slave dungeon, you will have a boat arranged for you to have a 45-minute cruise on the famous and historic Benya Lagoon, which divides the town into two major parts, which brought about its local name (Edina), which is a corruption of the Portuguese word "Aldea Duas Partes," meaning a village of two parts. The captain will give you a tour of one of the largest fishing markets as you cruise on the lagoon.