Akwidaa
Akwidaa
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![]() View of Akwidaa and the Gulf of Guinea | |
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 |
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]
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
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.[2]
History
The town have been settled for centuries by the Ahanta people.[2]
Fort Dorothea
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/42/AMH-7685-NA_Floor_plan_of_the_fort_Dorothea_at_Accoda.jpg/220px-AMH-7685-NA_Floor_plan_of_the_fort_Dorothea_at_Accoda.jpg)
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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Ezile_Bay_Beach%2C_Akwidaa.jpg/220px-Ezile_Bay_Beach%2C_Akwidaa.jpg)
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
References
- ^ 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
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/dd/Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg/40px-Wikivoyage-Logo-v3-icon.svg.png)