Difference between revisions of "Accra" - New World Encyclopedia
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The almost flat and featureless Accra plains descend gradually to the gulf from a height of 150 meters. The topography east of the city of Accra is marked by a succession of ridges and valleys. In the west of Accra, the low plains contain broader valleys, and round, low hills with a few rocky headlands. Mostly however, the land is flat and covered with grass and scrub. Thick patches of coconut palms dot the coastline. | The almost flat and featureless Accra plains descend gradually to the gulf from a height of 150 meters. The topography east of the city of Accra is marked by a succession of ridges and valleys. In the west of Accra, the low plains contain broader valleys, and round, low hills with a few rocky headlands. Mostly however, the land is flat and covered with grass and scrub. Thick patches of coconut palms dot the coastline. | ||
| − | The city lies within the coastal-savannah zone. Low annual rainfall averaging 810mm distributed over less than 80 days. The main wet season falls between the months of March and June, and a minor rainy season around October. | + | The city lies within the coastal-savannah zone. Low annual rainfall averaging 810mm distributed over less than 80 days. The main wet season falls between the months of March and June, and a minor rainy season around October. The mean temperatures vary from 75.2ºF (24ºC) in August to 80.6ºF (27ºC) in March. |
| − | + | The Odaw River is the main river that flows through Accra. Accra’s main water supply is from the Weija Dam on Densu River with some water being pumped from the Akosombo dam in the Volta River. Accra covers an area of about 65 square miles (170 square kilometers). | |
| − | |||
| − | Accra covers an area of about 170 | ||
Accra's low elevation, the clayish nature of its soil, inadequate and undersized drains, and the dumping of refuse into drains and water bodies contributes to flooding every year. | Accra's low elevation, the clayish nature of its soil, inadequate and undersized drains, and the dumping of refuse into drains and water bodies contributes to flooding every year. | ||
Revision as of 23:45, 16 June 2008
| Accra, Ghana | |
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| Coordinates: {{#invoke:Coordinates|coord}}{{#coordinates:5|33|00|N|0|12|00|W|type:city | |
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| name= }} | |
| District of Ghana | Accra Metropolis District |
| Government | |
| - Chief Executive | Stanley N. A. Blankson |
| Area | |
| - City | 185 km² (71.4 sq mi) |
| - Metro | 200 km² (77.2 sq mi) |
| Elevation | 61 m (200 ft) |
| Population (200) | |
| - Urban | 2,200,800 |
| - Metro | 2,905,726 |
| estimated | |
| Time zone | GMT (UTC) |
| - Summer (DST) | Not used (UTC) |
| Website: www.ama.ghanadistricts.gov.gh | |
Accra is the capital, the largest city, and the administrative, communications, and economic centre of Ghana. Located on the Gulf of Guinea in the Atlantic Ocean, the city sits partly on a cliff, 25 to 40 feet (eight to 12 metres) high, and spreads north over the Accra plains.
The city of Accra has been Ghana's capital since 1877, and contains fine public buildings reflecting its transition from a 19th century suburb of Victoriasborg to the modern metropolis it is today. Spreading along the Atlantic coast, the city is well endowed with luxury as well as great value hotels, excellent restaurants and nightclubs, a range of museums, fine public monuments, modern business and commercial areas, as well as busy markets and tree-lined residential suburbs.
Geography
The word Accra is derived from the word Nkran meaning "ants" in Akan, a reference to the numerous anthills seen in the countryside around Accra.
The almost flat and featureless Accra plains descend gradually to the gulf from a height of 150 meters. The topography east of the city of Accra is marked by a succession of ridges and valleys. In the west of Accra, the low plains contain broader valleys, and round, low hills with a few rocky headlands. Mostly however, the land is flat and covered with grass and scrub. Thick patches of coconut palms dot the coastline.
The city lies within the coastal-savannah zone. Low annual rainfall averaging 810mm distributed over less than 80 days. The main wet season falls between the months of March and June, and a minor rainy season around October. The mean temperatures vary from 75.2ºF (24ºC) in August to 80.6ºF (27ºC) in March.
The Odaw River is the main river that flows through Accra. Accra’s main water supply is from the Weija Dam on Densu River with some water being pumped from the Akosombo dam in the Volta River. Accra covers an area of about 65 square miles (170 square kilometers).
Accra's low elevation, the clayish nature of its soil, inadequate and undersized drains, and the dumping of refuse into drains and water bodies contributes to flooding every year.
History
The earliest recorded site of probable human habitation within modern Ghana was about 10,000 B.C.E. Pottery dating from the Stone Age (4,000 B.C.E.) was found near Accra.
Starting in the late thirteenth century, Ghana was inhabited by a number of ancient kingdoms, including an inland kingdom within the Ashanti Confederacy and various Fante states along the coast.
Portuguese settlers in 1482, found the present site of Accra occupied by villages of the Ga tribe, ruled from Ayaso, which was located about 15 miles (24km) north. Between 1650 and 1680 the English built Fort James, a fortified trading posts, the Dutch built Fort Crevecoeur, and the Danish—built Christiansborg Castle.
At that time, Ayaso was destroyed in a tribal war. The prospect of profitable trade with the Europeans, drew to the coast the Ayaso population, with that of the other Ga towns. Coastal villages grew around the existing Ga village as well as the three fortified trading posts — Osu around Christiansborg, Accra (later Ussher Town) around the Dutch fort, and James Town. These were the centres of what was to become Accra.
Accra grew into a prosperous trading centre. The west coast of Africa became the principal source of slaves for the New World, overshadowing trading for gold.
The Danes and the Dutch left in 1850 and 1872, respectively. In 1877, at the end of the second Anglo-Asante War, Accra replaced Cape Coast as the capital of the British Gold Coast colony. After the completion of a railway to the mining and agricultural interior, Accra became the economic centre of Ghana. In 1898 a municipal council was formed to improve the town.
Large areas were destroyed by earthquakes in 1862 and 1939, but the city grew around a seaport (now relocated to Tema), and later a brewery, expanding into neighbouring towns. The Accra Riots on February 28, 1948, in which colonial police killed 29 demonstrators and injured another 237, launched the Ghanaian campaign for independence, which led to the Ghana's independence from the United Kingdom and nationhood in 1957.
Today, Accra is one of the wealthiest and most modern cities in the African continent, with a high quality of living by African standards. Accra is also known as having one of the continent's most active night life.
Administration
The Accra Metropolitan Area is one of the five districts that make up the Greater Accra Region, which is turn is the smallest of the constitutional democracy of Ghana's 10 administrative regions in terms of area. Under the local government system, each district, municipal or metropolitan area, is administered by a chief executive, representing central government but deriving authority from an assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. Osu Castle, formerly known as Christianborg Castle and built in 1659, has been the seat of Government since the early 1920s.
Economy
Well endowed with natural resources, Ghana has roughly twice the per capita output of the poorest countries in West Africa. Even so, Ghana remains heavily dependent on international financial and technical aid.
Accra is the administrative, economic, and educational centre of Ghana, and contains the head offices of all banks, trading firms, insurance companies, the electricity corporation, and the post office. Accra is the location of the large open markets which handles the food supply. The primary economic activities are financial and government services, communications, construction, transport and agriculture (particularly fishing). Over 70 percent of Ghana's manufacturing capacity is located within the capital area.
Accra is a major transport hub, home to the Kotoka International Airport and lies on railway lines to the port city of Tema, 17 miles (27km) to the east, Takoradi and Kumasi, in the interior.
Accra has well-paved roads. Public transit is provided by a mix of privately owned Mini-buses (known as Tro-Tros), taxis and buses. Tro-Tros are usually converted Mini-buses that run a regular, well-known route. They are cheap and frequent but often in poor repair and over-crowded. Some taxis also run regular routes, which cost more but provide for a more comfortable ride. Recently in 2002, the city introduced metro bus services, which were initially met with scepticism by commuters, but have increased in popularity.
Demography
Accra had population of 1,970,400 in 2005, rank of 155 in the list of world urban areas, according to Demographia. The greater Accra Region is the second most populated region, after the Ashanti Region, with a population of 2,905,726 in 2000, accounting for 15.4 per cent of Ghana’s total population.
The major ethnic groups are the Akan (39.8 percent), Ga-Dangme (29.7 percent) and Ewe (18 percent). The Gas however form the largest single sub-ethnic grouping, accounting for 18.9 percent. Christians constitute the largest religious group (83.0 percent), followed by Moslems (10.2 percent), people who profess no religion (4.6 percent) and adherents of traditional religion (1.4 percent).
On Accra's outskirts are Achimota Secondary School, founded in 1924, and Presby Boys' Secondary School, as well as some of the country's leading secondary schools. The University of Ghana, with its distinctive buildings set among elegant tree-lined gardensand, is located eight miles (13km) north at Legon.
In Cantonments, you'll find Ghana International School (GIS), a private non-profit A- Level school founded in 1955 for children from ages 3-18. Abelemkpe is the home of Lincoln Community School, Accra Ghana (LCS). LCS is also a private, non-profit International Baccalaureate school for students aged 3-18, and was established in 1968. The Defence Commission of the Organization of African Unity has its headquarters in Accra.
Attractions
The Kwame Nkrumah Memorial is located in downtown Accra. Other attractions include the Centre for National Culture, Independence Square, the Kwame Nkrumah Mausoleum, the Accra International Conference Centre, the fishing port at James Town and Makola Market.
Accra is home to the National Museum of Ghana, with its display of exhibits that reflect the heritage of Ghana from prehistoric times to modern times, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Archives of Ghana, and Ghana's central library. Also of note is Christianborg or Osu Castle—the residence of the president of Ghana, built by the Danes in the 17th century, the National Theatre, with its distinctive modern architecture, Accra Centre for National Culture, a lighthouse, the Ohene Djan Stadium, the Accra International Conference Centre, the W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture and several beaches. Near the Parliament of Ghana is the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in ICT.
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Pellow, Deborah. 2002. Landlords and lodgers socio-spatial organization in an Accra community. Westport, CT: Praeger. ISBN 9780313012396
- Parker, John. 2000. Making the town: Ga state and society in early Colonial Accra. Social history of Africa. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. ISBN 9780852556436
- Obosu-Mensah, Kwaku. 1999. Food production in urban areas: a study of urban agriculture in Accra, Ghana. Aldershot: Ashgate. ISBN 9780754610298
- Nadeau, Jennifer E. 2000. Power lines: how commercial popular culture is creating a new public sphere in Accra, Ghana. Thesis (Ph. D.)—American University, 2000. OCLC 187893161
External links
- World Urbanized Areas Demographia, accessed June 16, 2008.
- Accra Encyclopaedia Britannica, accessed June 16, 2008.
- Ghana World Fact Book, accessed June 16, 2008.
- Accra RUAF Foundation, accessed June 16, 2008.
- Greater Accra Region Ghana Districts.com, accessed June 16, 2008.
- Latest Accra News
- Map of Accra
- Google Earth image of Accra, Ghana
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