Abandze

After a disappointing and very frustrating meeting with Tullow Oil's Social Investment team, I thought I needed a beer! Alas there were better treats in store for me to help pick up my enthusiasm.

We came across the small fishing village of Abandze on a hill near the Atlantic Ocean coast of Ghana. It grew around the Dutch Fort Amsterdam, established in 1598. The fort was rebuilt as the British settlement in the region, renamed Fort York, in 1645. It was then recaptured by the Dutch in 1665 and reverted to its original name, mirroring the British takeover of New Amsterdam which renamed that settlement New York.

For decades it was used as a hub for slave trading along the coast of West Africa, with slaves being brought from as far as Nigeria to later be traded to the US.

The front door of the Fort is commonly known as the 'Door of No Return'. Needless to say I turned back, got into the car and headed for Accra!