The Cape Coast Castle is one of the biggest castles still standing in Ghana today which was constructed by European forces, On a portion of the Gold Coast that subsequently came to be known as the Cape Coast, it all started as a Portuguese trade lodge built in 1555. The Swedish Africa Company built a permanent wooden stronghold in 1653 to facilitate the trading of gold and lumber after Sweden conquered the Cape Coast. The regional office of the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board is located there, and it is currently a historical museum with a gift shop selling Ghanaian arts and crafts.

So Jorge da Mina (St. George of the Mine) was the name given to Elmina Castle by the Portuguese in 1482 when they erected it in Elmina, Ghana (formerly the Gold Coast). Elmina and Elmina Castle is the oldest European structure still standing below the Sahara because it was the first trading post ever constructed on the Gulf of Guinea. It was initially founded as a trading colony but eventually developed into one of the most significant sites along the path of the Atlantic slave trade. A significant portion of Werner Herzog's 1987 drama film "Cobra Verde" was filmed at Elmina Castle, which is now a well-known historical landmark. It serves as a stark reminder of the history of the slave trade and is a very sought-after destination for African American travelers hoping to connect with their heritage.