Sekondi–Takoradi Mayor Frederick Faidoo has reaffirmed the Assembly’s commitment to renovating—without altering—the colonial architecture of buildings scattered within Sekondi’s European Town, near the Western Naval Command enclave.
He has emphasized that these historic structures—including Fort Orange, the old railway station, the early post office, European Town bank buildings and colonial-era cathedrals—are not just relics but essential to framing the Western region as a key tourism destination.
He argues that their conservation would breathe new life into Sekondi’s historic quarters and allow the city to reclaim its cultural identity.
Fort Orange, built by the Dutch in 1642 and later fortified in 1690, stands as the most recognisable symbol of the town’s colonial heritage.
Seized by the British in the 19th century, it has served as a lighthouse and in recent years housed the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board’s regional office.
Nearby once stood Fort Sekondi, built by the English in 1682 and destroyed in conflicts, but its presence shaped the development of European Town as a residence.
Many of those structures still stand, their faded façades marking a townscape that tells the story of centuries of European influence on Ghana’s coast.
The Mayor said these monuments were not to be seen as ruins of a forgotten era but as “living assets” that, when properly restored and showcased, could attract visitors from across the country and abroad.
“These sites—woven into our colonial heritage and cultural narrative—tell stories that must be preserved and shared,” he said. “Once given the prominence they deserve, they will unlock tourism potential, create jobs and provide real economic opportunities for local people.”
His remarks came during a courtesy call from the newly appointed Flag Officer Commanding of the Western Naval Command, Commodore Samuel Ayelazono, who outlined the Navy’s plans to redevelop its Officers’ Mess into a modern hospitality and events centre.
The facility, he said, would serve both naval personnel and the public, and could play a role in opening up the enclave to visitors.
He asked for the Assembly’s technical and regulatory backing to deliver the project and extended an invitation to the Mayor to attend the Command’s Annual Memorial Day, which honours naval officers who lost their lives in service.
The Mayor welcomed the Navy’s willingness to partner in giving new relevance to a metropolis long defined by its colonial past.
With Fort Orange standing at its heart and European Town still bearing the imprint of Dutch and British settlement, he said the collaboration between the Assembly and the Command would help ensure Sekondi’s story is not only preserved but retold for a new generation.
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