Fort Christianborg, or Osu Castle, is built in the Osu district of Accra, on the Gulf Coast of the Atlantic Ocean. The first substantial fortress on the site was erected by Denmark and Norway in the 1660s, the castle was later owned by Portugal and Britain, and was reconstructed several times after Ghana's independence. Osu Castle was neighboured by the Dutch Fort Crevecoeur and the British Fort James.
Around the settlement of Osu, the Danish-Norwegian kingdom bought adjacent land and built a fortification, which was used as the colony's capital for almost 200 years. In 1850, the British bought all Danish property on the Gold Coast to prevent France and Belgium from strengthening their position in the area. In 1862 an earthquake destroyed most of the upper floors, they were rebuilt and the castle later became the seat of the colonial government. In 1950, the wooden upper floors were reconstructed according to the original plans. With the establishment of the independent republic of Ghana in 1957, the fort's status did not change, it was the home of the government and the residence of the Governor-General.
Fort Christianborg has been rebuilt many times, with the last major additions being made in 1961 for the visit of Elizabeth II. The castle has hosted many guests, including Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama. Today it houses medical offices, a café and the Government Post Office. Since 2007, there has been an ongoing debate in Parliament about moving the presidential palace to a new building, which was built with a $50 million loan.
For most of its history, the fortress has been the seat of the government of Ghana, with some interruptions. Most recently, it was occupied by the John Kafuor administration until January 2009. Fort Christianborg also serves as the burial place of the President of Ghana, John Atta Mills. The old fort is used for ceremonial and official receptions..
