Town in Western Region, Ghana
Akwidaa
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|---|---|
| Town | |
 View of Akwidaa and the Gulf of Guinea | |
  AkwidaaLocation of Akwidaa in Western Region, Ghana | |
| Coordinates: 4°45′N 2°1′W / 4.750°N 2.017°W / 4.750; -2.017 | |
| Country | Ghana |
| Region | Western Region |
| District | Ahanta West District |
| Population | |
| • Demonym | Akwidan |
| Time zone | UTC+0 (Greenwich Mean Time) |
| • Summer (DST) | GMT |
| postal code | WH |
Akwidaa is a small town and fishing village in Ahanta West district, Western Region of Ghana. It is one of the southernmost places in Ghana.
The part of town near the Gulf of Guinea, known as Akiwidaa Old Town, suffers from flooding and erosion as a result of climate change. This is due to its location in a low-lying area adjacent to a wetland and river mouth. This resulted in most of the residents evacuating inland, which would become Akiwidaa New Town.
Etymology
Akwidaa is a Twi word meaning 'old man'. It is believe to be named after a man who transported people over the Ezile River during Dutch colonial times. The town was originally named after the river.
History
The town have been settled for centuries by the Ahanta people.
Fort Dorothea
In the late 17th and early 18th Century, Akwidaa, then known as Fort Dorothea, was the smaller of the two forts which constituted a German colony, the Brandenburger Gold Coast. After being captured by the Dutch, they occupied the fort from 1687 to 1698 from whom the Brandenburgers sold it in 1718. The ruins of the fort were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 along with other forts in the region.
Economy
The economy is primarily based upon fishing, with many fishing boats lining the shoreline. Agriculture is also a major sector in the town. It is a tourist spot in the region, being the location of many popular beaches.
With the discovery of oil in the district, Akwidaa have been a point of interest for investment.
Beaches
- Ezile-Bay Ecolodge
- Akwidaa Inn
- Safari beach
See also
References
- ^ Nzema East Municipal district
- ^ "Akwidaa - Ghana West Coast". Ghana West Coast Destination Management Organization. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ Cripps, C; Effah, E; Inkoom, J; Ntiri, E; Rubinoff, P; Stevens, H (2010). "A Climate Change and Natural Hazards Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan for Akwidaa and Ezile Bay, Ahanta West District" (PDF). USAID. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- Van Dantzig, Albert (1980). Forts and Castles of Ghana (Reprinted 1999 ed.). Accra, Ghana: Sedco Publishing Limited. pp. 37–39. ISBN 9964 72 010 6.
- "Fort Dorothea, Akwidaa (1685)". Ghana Museums and Monuments Board. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- Bathurst, C (1781). An Universal History: From the Earliest Accounts to the Present Time. Vol. 13.
- "Forts and Castles, Volta, Greater Accra, Central and Western Regions". UNESCO World Heritage Convention. Retrieved 9 October 2022.
External links
| Districts and Capitals of the Western Region of Ghana | ||
|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan (1) |
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| Municipal (8) |
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| Ordinary (5) |
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| Forts of the former European colonial powers on the Gold Coast | |
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| Brandenburg-Prussian forts | |
| British forts | |
| Danish forts | |
| Dutch forts | |
| Portuguese forts | |
| Swedish forts | |