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.[1][2]
Akwidaa
| |
|---|---|
 View of Akwidaa and the Gulf of Guinea | |
  Akwidaa Location of Akwidaa in Western Region, Ghana | |
| Coordinates: 4°45′N 2°1′W / 4.750°N 2.017°W | |
| 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 |
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.[3]
Etymology
editAkwidaa 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.[2]
History
editThe town have been settled for centuries by the Ahanta people.[2]
Fort Dorothea
edit
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.[4][5][6] The ruins of the fort were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1979 along with other forts in the region.[7]
Economy
edit
The economy is primarily based upon fishing, with many fishing boats lining the shoreline. Agriculture is also a major sector in the town.[3] It is a tourist spot in the region, being the location of many popular beaches.[1]
With the discovery of oil in the district, Akwidaa have been a point of interest for investment.[3]
See Also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b Nzema East Municipal district
- ^ a b c "Akwidaa - Ghana West Coast". Ghana West Coast Destination Management Organization. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
- ^ a b c 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
edit
