Fort Metal Cross

Fort Metal Cross, originally known as Fort Dixcove, is a historic military structure situated on a promontory in the fishing community of Infuma near Dixcove, within the Western Region of Ghana. Constructed in 1683 during the era of the British Gold Coast, the fort served as a strategic point for European-African trade. Its historical significance is deeply rooted in the Atlantic slave trade and regional commerce, leading to its inclusion as part of the Forts and Castles of Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. The site stands as a testament to the complex colonial interactions that shaped the region's history.

The fort possesses a dynamic history of ownership and conflict. Although built by the British, it was successfully defended against two sieges in 1712 by John Kanu, a local ally of the competing Brandenburg-Prussia forces. In 1868, the structure was transferred to the Netherlands under the Anglo-Dutch Gold Coast Treaty and renamed Fort Metalen Kruis. However, just four years later in 1872, it reverted to British control following the Gold Coast treaty of 1871. Despite returning to British rule, the Dutch name persisted, eventually translated into its current English title, Fort Metal Cross. Historically, the location was sometimes referred to as the fake mint of the Gold Coast due to the prevalence of impure gold mined in the vicinity.

Today, Fort Metal Cross remains a recognized landmark within Ghana's network of coastal fortifications. While specific details regarding its current interior condition or public access hours are not extensively detailed in available records, its status as a UNESCO World Heritage component ensures its preservation as a site of global cultural importance. The structure continues to serve as a physical reminder of the maritime trade routes, colonial power shifts between European nations, and the tragic legacy of the slave trade that defined this stretch of the West African coast for centuries.