Ussher Fort, Dutch colonial fort in Ashiedu Keteke, Ghana.

Ussher Fort is a fortified structure in Accra surrounded by thick defensive walls and bastions that once commanded control over the harbor. The layout reveals different functional areas including storage rooms, residential quarters, and observation points that reflect the strategic design of a trading post.

The Dutch began negotiating a fort here in 1610, built a simple factory in 1642 and enlarged it in 1649 as Fort Crèvecœur, named after a fort at 's-Hertogenbosch. The French briefly seized it in the 17th century. Destroyed after a British attack, it was rebuilt in 1839 by Dutch master of works Hubertus Varlet, transferred to Britain in 1868 and later renamed after Governor Herbert Taylor Ussher.

The fort represents European colonial presence and the trade networks that shaped the Gold Coast's history. Visitors walk through spaces where merchants conducted business and goods were stored, seeing firsthand how commerce and power were intertwined.

The fort stands east of Accra's present port, on a rocky point between two lagoons. It is open from 9:00am to 4:30pm Monday to Saturday, including public holidays. The arched gateway is marked "USSHER FORT", with "GATEWAY REBUILT 1924" and "1839" above it.

The fort played a role in shaping Accra's development as a major port city, though its original purpose was purely commercial. The structures today show how Europeans adapted their fortress designs to the West African coastal setting.