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Basic 2 · History · Major Historical Locations

Other Historical Places in Ghana

In this topic you will learn about other historical places in Ghana, such as the castles and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park.

By the end of these notes you should be able to:

  • Name historical places in Ghana
  • Say what happened at each place
  • Explain why we protect historical places

What you already know

  • Historical places: Kumasi

Copy everything that has a blue line on its left into your notebook. The other parts are for reading.

Strand
My Country Ghana
Sub-strand
Major Historical Locations
Indicator
B2.2.4.1.1 – Discuss the history of Ghana's major historical locations

Introduction

People from around the world visit Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle and the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park. These places tell Ghana's story.

1. Historical Places

Historical places in Ghana
PlaceWhereWhat it tells us
Elmina CastleElmina, Central Regionbuilt by the Portuguese in 1482; the oldest European building in Ghana
Cape Coast CastleCape Coast, Central Regionused in the slave trade; enslaved Africans were shipped away from here
Kwame Nkrumah Memorial ParkAccrawhere Nkrumah declared independence in 1957; his tomb is here
Larabanga MosqueSavannah Regionone of the oldest mosques in Ghana, built of mud
Elmina Castle, the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park and Larabanga Mosque
Figure 1: Historical places in Ghana Draw one historical place.Photos: Damien Halleux Radermecker, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Nkansahrexford, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Sathyan Velumani, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

2. Protecting Historical Places

  • They help us remember our past.
  • They teach us lessons.
  • Tourists visit and bring money to Ghana.

New words

castle
A large, strong old building.
slave trade
Buying and selling people as slaves.
memorial
A place that helps us remember someone.
tourist
A person who visits places for pleasure.

Summary

  • Elmina and Cape Coast Castles tell the story of the slave trade.
  • The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park remembers Ghana's independence.
  • We protect historical places to remember our past.

Class activity: Historical Places Show

  1. Choose one historical place from the photographs.
  2. Draw it and write two facts about it.
  3. Present it to the class.

You need: Ghana map, Printed photographs of major Ghanaian historical sites, Locally made site-name cards

Exercises

Answer in your exercise book first, then check your answers.

  1. 1. Which castle was built by the Portuguese in 1482?

    • A. Elmina Castle
    • B. Cape Coast Castle
    • C. Osu Castle
    • D. Fort Kumasi
    Show answer
    Answer: Elmina CastleIt is the oldest European building in Ghana.

  2. 2. Where is the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park?

    • A. Accra
    • B. Kumasi
    • C. Tamale
    • D. Wa
    Show answer
    Answer: AccraIt is in Accra.

  3. 3. Cape Coast Castle was used in the slave trade.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: TrueEnslaved people were shipped from there.

  4. 4. Larabanga Mosque is in the Volta Region.

    • A. True
    • B. False
    Show answer
    Answer: FalseIt is in the Savannah Region.

  5. 5. A person who visits places for pleasure is a ______.

    Show answer
    Answer: touristTourists visit historical places.

  6. 6. Why should we protect historical places?

    Show answer
    Answer: They help us remember our past and teach lessons.Historical places keep our history.

Homework

  1. Ask an adult if they have visited a historical place. What did they see?