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64-535: The major cities in the Gap are Accra , Lomé , Cotonou and Porto-Novo . Several other cities, such as Kumasi , exist on the fringe of the Gap. The dryness of the Dahomey Gap is unusual, given that it lies surrounded by a very wet monsoon belt on all sides, without mountains to block moisture. Yet, Accra, which is in the heart of the Gap, receives only 720 mm (28 in) of rainfall per year — less than half

128-567: A hot semi-arid climate ( Köppen climate classification : BSh ). The average annual rainfall is about 730 mm, which falls primarily during Ghana's two rainy seasons. The chief rainy season begins in April and ends in mid-July, whilst a weaker second rainy season occurs in October. Rain usually falls in short intensive storms and causes local flooding in which drainage channels are obstructed. Very little variation in temperature occurs throughout

192-459: A durbar of chiefs, a colourful procession of the Chiefs in palanquins with their retinue. They are accompanied by traditional military groups called 'Asafo Companies' amidst drumming, singing and dancing through the streets and on the durbar grounds. At the durbar, greetings are exchanged between the chiefs, libations are poured and declarations of allegiance are made. The political administration of

256-452: A link between the martial qualities and migratory behaviour of the local ants and those of the Ga people. The link between the ethnonym and ants was explicitly reflected in the recognition of anthills as sacred places. Often ringed by sacred fences ( aklabatsa ), the tall red mounds dotting Accra's hinterland were seen as microcosms of human community and as nodal points between the known world and

320-644: A location for national and international business conferences, such as the BarCamp Ghana series, organised by GhanaThink Foundation. Owing to its location in the Dahomey Gap , where the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean coast runs parallel to the prevailing moist monsoonal winds, Accra features a very marginal tropical wet and dry climate ( Köppen climate classification : Aw ) that borders on

384-417: A presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The MMDA's were increased from 3 to 5 in 1988; then from 5 to 6 in 2004; then from 6 to 10 in 2008; then from 10 to 16 in 2012; and recently from 16 to 29 in 2018. The number of constituencies increased/spread from 22 to 27 in 2004 making and 34 prior to the 2012 Ghanaian general election .The current list is as follows: The center of population of

448-527: A women's compound. Each Ga town has a number of different cults and many gods, and there are a number of annual town festivals. The Adangme people occupy the coastal area of Ghana from Le Kpone to Ada, on the Volta River and South Atlantic Ocean along the Gulf of Guinea and inland along the Volta River. The Adangme People include the Ada, Le Kpone, Krobo, Ningo, Osuduku, Prampram, and Shai, all speaking Adangbe of

512-542: Is Akan , at 39.8% of the population. The next largest group is Ga-Dangme at 30.7% of the population. After this 18% of the population is Ewe . The Ga sub-group of the Ga-Dangme people is the historical population of Accra. They form the largest ethnic sub-group in the Greater Accra Region, with 18.9% of the population. The Fante are the next largest ethnic sub-group, with 10% of the population. In 1960

576-533: Is celebrated in remembrance of a great famine that hit the Ga people in the sixteenth century. It is mainly a food festival which celebrates the passing of that terrible period in Ga history. It takes place in August every year and is celebrated by all the Ga clans. The Adangbe people from Ada celebrate the Asafotu festival, which is also called 'Asafotufiam', an annual warrior's festival celebrated by Ada people from

640-566: Is inhabited by about 4 million people, making it the thirteenth-largest metropolitan area in Africa . In 2020, the Globalization and World Cities Research Network think tank designated Accra as a "Gamma −" level global city , indicating a growing level of international influence and connectedness. The word Accra is derived from the Akan word Nkran meaning "ants", a reference to

704-583: Is the most urbanized region in the country with 87.4% of its total population living in urban centres. The capital city of Greater Accra Region is Accra which is at the same time the capital city of Ghana. In 1960, Greater Accra, then referred to as Accra Capital District, was geographically part of the Eastern Region . It was, however, administered separately by the Minister responsible for local government. With effect from 23 July 1982, Greater Accra

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768-539: The Accra Metropolitan District as it existed before 2008, when it covered 199.4 km (77.0 sq mi). This territory has since been split into 13 local government districts : 12 independent municipal districts (total area: 179.0 km ) and the reduced Accra Metropolitan District (20.4 km ), which is the only district within the capital to be granted city status. This territory of 199.4 km contained 1,782,150 inhabitants at

832-571: The Accra Metropolitan District , is led by a Metropolitan Chief Executive who is appointed by the President of the Republic of Ghana . The Mayor of Accra is Mohammed Adjei Sowah , who was appointed by President Nana Akufo-Addo and approved unanimously by the AMA on 23 March 2017. The Ablekuma South sub-metropolitan district covers an area of 6 km (2.3 sq mi) and is bordered by

896-522: The Ga language is Gaga , thus they also started calling themselves Ga. Due to the sheer numbers of the Ga immigrants, the indigenous Lartehs relocated to the Akuapem ridge. Initially, Accra was not the most prominent trading centre; the trade hubs of the time were the ports at Ada and Prampram , along with the inland centres of Dodowa and Akuse . The Dutch built the nearby outposts of Ussher Fort while

960-811: The National Archives of Ghana and Ghana's central library, the National Theatre , the Accra Centre for National Culture, and Jamestown Lighthouse . The Parliament , Supreme Court of Ghana , Black Star Square and the Bank of Ghana are also located in Accra. The city is also a transportation hub, home to the Kotoka International Airport , and railway links to Tema , Sekondi-Takoradi and Kumasi . Accra has become

1024-905: The Upper East Region , ending at Kulungugu. The N4 heads north from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, while the N6 originates from Achimota. These highways cut through the northern part of the region and terminate at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region . There is also an active railway line connecting Accra and Tema . Greater Accra has three public four-year institutions, the University of Ghana in Accra , Ghana Institute of Journalism and University of Professional Studies , East Legon, Accra. In addition, there are

1088-510: The segregation of European and African neighbourhoods was mandated by law until 1923, and all new buildings were required to be built out of stone or concrete. Despite these regulations, European settlers in the Gold Coast were very hesitant to invest any large amount of money into the city to maintain its infrastructure or improve public works. This did not change until the governorship of Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg during which period

1152-536: The 2021 census, and serves as the capital of Ghana, while the district under the jurisdiction of the Accra Metropolitan Assembly proper (20.4 km ) is distinguished from the rest of the capital as the "City of Accra". Formed from the merger of distinct settlements around British Fort James , Dutch Fort Crêvecoeur (Ussher Fort) , and Danish Fort Christiansborg as Jamestown , Usshertown , and Christiansborg respectively, Accra served as

1216-698: The Ablekuma Central and Ablekuma North Municipal Assemblies, and the Ashiedu Keteke sub-metropolitan district. It includes 5 electoral areas: Korle Gonno, Korlebu, Chorkor, Mamprobi, and New Mamprobi. Communities within the Okaikoi South sub-metropolitan district include Darkuman, New Fadama, Kaneshie, Bubiashie, and Avenor. The sub-metro has 8 electoral areas namely Awudome, Goten, Kaatsean, Mukose, Bubuashie, Bubui, Avenor and Kaneshie. The Ashiedu Keteke sub-metropolitan district covers

1280-613: The Accra Metropolitan District, 199.4 km (77.0 sq mi), as it existed before 2008, is now divided into 13 separate local government districts, all governed as municipal assemblies with their own town hall and a municipal executive appointed by the president of the republic. Each municipal assembly is responsible for most local services, such as local planning and refuse collection. The reduced Accra Metropolitan District (also referred to as City of Accra), 20.4 km (7.9 sq mi), once comprised

1344-544: The British and Ashantis , the British captured Kumasi , destroying portions of the city. The British then captured Accra in 1874, and in 1877, at the end of the second Anglo-Asante War , Accra replaced Cape Coast as the capital of the British Gold Coast . This decision was made because Accra had a drier climate relative to Cape Coast. Until this time, the settlement of Accra was confined between Ussher Fort to

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1408-575: The British and the Swedes built James Fort and Christiansborg castles, respectively. By the 17th century, Portugal, France and Denmark, had constructed forts in the city. Britain gradually acquired the interests of all other countries beginning in 1851, when Denmark sold Christiansborg (which they had acquired from the Swedes) and their other forts to the British. The Netherlands was the last to sell out, in 1871. In 1873, after decades of tension between

1472-790: The CBD, as well as increased migration into Jamestown. The modern city is centered on the original British, Danish, and Dutch forts and their surrounding communities: Jamestown near the British James Fort , Osu near the Danish fort of Christiansborg (now Osu Castle ), and Ussherstown near the Dutch Ussher fort . Tourist attractions include the National Museum of Ghana , the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences ,

1536-496: The CBD. In 1944, Accra's city planner Maxwell Fry devised a town plan, which was revised in 1958 by B.D.W. Treavallion and Alan Flood. Although the Fry/Trevallion plan was never followed through, it illustrated the British vision of how Accra should develop. In 1948, Ghana remained a colony of Great Britain following World War II. The chief of Osu Alata, Nii Kobina Bonney III, had set up a boycott of European goods across

1600-665: The Central Business District (CBD) and as such the hub of major commercial activities within the Metropolis. Major markets include Makola, Agbogbloshie, and Kwasiodwaso. There are 8 electoral areas namely Ngleshie, Mudor, Kinka, Nmlitsagonno, Amamomo, Korle Wonkon, and Korle Dudor. Ledzekuku Municipal District The Ledzekuku Municipal District, with its administrative capital at Teshie , covers an estimated area of 31.3 km (12.1 sq mi). Krowor Municipal District The Krowor Municipal District

1664-598: The Community Centre or Independence Square, lending both spaces symbolic significance. The Nkrumah plan did not emphasize order nearly as much as the Fry/Treavallion plan did; whereas the British plan strove to lessen crowding in the commercial district and help relieve the overcrowding of neighbourhoods bordering the CBD, the Nkrumah plan allowed for continued compression of commercial establishments into

1728-526: The Greater Accra Region, with 18.9% of the population. The Ga peoples were organized into six independent towns (Accra (Ga Mashie), Osu, La, Teshie, Nungua, and Tema). Each town had a stool, which served as the central object of Ga ritual and war magic. Now, the town of La has a community bank which offers banking services to them. Accra became the most prominent Ga-Dangme towns and is now the heartbeat and capital of Ghana.[4] The Ga people were originally farmers, but today fishing and trading in imported goods are

1792-634: The Greater Accra region is located in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area which comprises the Accra Metropolitan , Tema Metropolitan , Adenta Municipal , La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal District , Ashaiman Municipal , Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal , Ga East Municipal , Ga West Municipal , and Ga South Municipal districts According to the 2010 census, the region had a population of 4,010,054, making it

1856-764: The Greater Accra region. N1 enters the region in Ada to the east and runs west, intersecting the N2 at Tema , the Ghana Road Network Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, and the N6 at Achimota . It passes through Kokrobite and exits the region at Weija where it continues on through the Central Region to Elubo in the Western region . The N2 crosses the Eastern Regional border into Asikuma and runs north entering

1920-719: The Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. [5] The Adangme People have the largest Population among the two related Ga-Adangme People. About 70% of the Greater Accra Regional Land is owned by the Adangmes located in Dangme East and Dangme West Districts of Ghana. 1.3% of the inhabitants of the Greater Accra Region are immigrants from outside Ghana. The largest portion of the population of Accra

1984-476: The amount needed to sustain tropical rainforest (which would be expected at a latitude of 6° N ). The cause of the dryness of the Dahomey Gap can simply be explained thus: Evidence from biogeography suggests that the Dahomey Gap has had significance for up to 90 million years. Murphy and Collier, in their analysis of two aplocheiloid fish genera, show a split in the African species which they attribute to

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2048-583: The building of a major hospital (Korle-Bu) and secondary school (Achimota). Such improvements led to an increase in Accra's population due to the migration of rural dwellers into the city, and the immigration of increasing numbers of British businessmen and administrators. In the years following World War II , the neighbourhoods of Ridge and Cantonments were planned as low-density developments for Europeans, while many rural migrants settled in neighbourhoods which had not yet been incorporated into Accra's municipal boundary, such as Nima and surrounding areas. Thus,

2112-493: The capital of the British Gold Coast between 1877 and 1957 and has since transitioned into a modern metropolis. The capital's architecture reflects this history, ranging from 19th-century colonial architecture to modern skyscrapers and apartment blocks. Accra is the Greater Accra Region 's economic and administrative hub, and serves as the anchor of the larger Greater Accra Metropolitan Area (GAMA), which

2176-643: The city, and an insulation effect can give rise to a local increase in air temperature of several degrees. This occurs most notably in the Accra Newtown sports complex areas. The administration of Accra occurs at two levels. Strategic initiatives, such as the urban transportation project, are coordinated between district authorities, while local administration is carried out by local government authorities, which are responsible for most local services, such as local planning, local roads and refuse collection within their area of jurisdiction. The former territory of

2240-407: The coast. The maximum wind speed record in Accra is 107.4 km/h (58 knots). Strong winds associated with thunderstorm activity often cause damage to property by removing roofing material. Several areas of Accra experience microclimatic effects. Low-profile drainage basins with a north–south orientation are not as well ventilated as those oriented east–west. Air is often trapped in pockets over

2304-468: The coastal region an extension of the exclusive European neighbourhood of Victoriaborg, and to create a recreational preserve for the elite. However, the British Gold Coast ended before the Fry/Treavallion plan was enacted. When Kwame Nkrumah became Ghana's first post-independence Prime Minister in 1957, he created his own plan for Accra's development. Instead of creating spaces to serve

2368-439: The colonial police chief to disperse. Three of the leaders of the demonstration were killed, including Sergeant Nii Adjetey , who now has a memorial in Accra, leading to the 1948 Accra riots . In the Fry/Treavallion plan, a reorganization of the CBD was called for, as well as the development of the coastal region of the city. To reorganize the CBD, the planners decided to superimpose a tight street grid north of Fort Ussher. To

2432-438: The country due to the rise of prices for essential commodities. At the same time, veterans of the war were fighting for their benefits and promised pay. Unarmed ex-servicemen organized a march on Christiansborg Castle , Accra, on 28 February 1948. Their plan was to hand a petition to the colonial governor demanding they receive their pay and benefits. Before reaching the castle, the veterans were fired upon, after being ordered by

2496-619: The development of Accra's drainage infrastructure, according to the Climate & Development Knowledge Network . As Accra is close to the equator , the daylight hours are practically uniform during the year. Relative humidity is generally high, varying from 65% in the midafternoon to 95% at night. The predominant wind direction in Accra is from the WSW to NNE sectors. Wind speeds normally range between 8 and 16 km/h. High wind gusts occur with thunderstorms , which generally pass in squalls along

2560-429: The development of these neighbourhoods was unregulated by the government, creating a crowded and jumbled shanty-town landscape. Another area of Accra that took shape at this time was the central business district (CBD). More administrative buildings were built on High Street, forming a massive judicial/administrative complex. Additionally, the expansion of the economy led to many more commercial buildings being built in

2624-603: The east and the Korle Lagoon to the west. As the newly established Gold Coast's administrative functions were moved to Accra (1877), an influx of British colonial administrators and European settlers grew around the Christiansborg (modern Osu , Ministries, Ridge, Labone, and Cantonments) began, and the city began to expand to accommodate the new residents. Victoriaborg was formed in the late 19th century as an exclusively European residential neighbourhood, located to

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2688-400: The east of the city limits of the time. The boundaries of Accra were further stretched in 1908, after a bubonic plague epidemic. This expansion entailed the creation of a native-only neighbourhood, intended to accommodate members of the native population as a means of relieving congestion problems in the overcrowded city centre. Adabraka was thus established to the north of the city. One of

2752-417: The east of this newly organized CBD, the planners hoped to preserve a broad, open space for a restaurant, country club, and polo and cricket fields. Additionally, the British planners intended to build large numbers of public squares, fountains, and ornamental pools and statues throughout the city, as well as a vast Parliament Complex in the city centre. Lastly, the Fry/Treavallion plan included plans to make

2816-642: The elite, Nkrumah sought to create spaces to inspire pride and nationalism in his people and people throughout Africa. Rather than creating ornamental fountains and a large Parliament complex, Nkrumah decided to build landmarks such as Independence Square, the State House, and the Organisation of African Unity building, and to refurbish Christianborg Castle. Nkrumah decided to leave the Atlantic coastal region undeveloped so as to not detract attention from

2880-487: The entirety of Accra until the Ledzokuku, Krowor, La Dadekotopon, Ablekuma North, Ablekuma Central, Ablekuma West, Ayawaso East, Ayawaso North, Ayawaso Central, Ayawaso West, Okaikwei North, and Korley Kottey districts were carved out as separate municipal districts between 2008 and 2019. Accra Metropolitan District (City of Accra) The Accra Metropolitan District is one of the 13 local government districts that contains

2944-464: The historic centre and the primary central business district (CBD) of Accra. To promote efficiency in the administrative machinery and also meet the ever-pressing demands for amenities and essential services, the district is divided into the Ashiedu Keteke, Okaikoi South, and Ablekuma South sub-metropolitan districts. The Accra Metropolitan Assembly, which governs the City of Accra within the boundaries of

3008-550: The last Thursday of July to the first weekend of August commemorates the victories of the warriors in battle and is a memorial for those who fell on the battlefield. To re-enact these historic events, the warriors dress in traditional battle dress and stage a mock battle. This is also a time for male rites of passage, when young men are introduced to warfare. The festival also coincides with the harvest cycle, when these special customs and ceremonies are performed. These include purification ceremonies. The celebration reaches its climax with

3072-468: The most influential decisions in the history of the city was that of building the Accra-Kumasi railway in 1908. This was to connect Accra, the country's foremost port at that time, with Ghana's main cocoa -producing regions. In 1923, the railway was completed, and by 1924, cocoa was Ghana's largest export. The colonial era heavily influenced the shape that Accra took during this period. For example,

3136-511: The numerous anthills seen in the countryside around Accra. The name specifically refers to soldier ants , and was applied to both the town and people by the Twi speakers. The name of Accra in the local Ga language is Ga or Gaga , the same name as that of the Ga people and a cognate with Nkran . The word is sometimes rendered with the nasalised vowels as Gã or Gãgã . Historian Carl Christian Reindorf confirmed this etymology, proposing

3200-553: The population of the Greater Accra Region was 491,817. In 2000 the population was 2,905,726. In 2010 the population was 4,010,054. The religious affiliations of the people of the Greater Accra region are below: The Greater Accra region is served by the Kotoka International Airport in Accra . The airport offers flight to destinations within Ghana, the African continent and to other continents. Four National highways – N1, N2, N4 and N6 – and one Regional highway – R40 – pass through

3264-661: The presence of an epicontinental sea between the late Cenomanian and early Eocene . This discontinuity had earlier been noted in plant species by White and is supported by an analysis of the Coffea clade by Maurin et al. The Dahomey Gap has existed in its present form for only about four thousand years. For most of the Quaternary , dry conditions due to a much colder Atlantic Ocean (aided by extensive cold currents from ice sheets in Europe and North America ) have meant that

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3328-486: The present-day forest zone has supported very little or no rainforest. In interglacial periods, however, rainfall throughout West Africa has often been so heavy that the Gap has become wet enough to support rainforest , thus eliminating the savanna. Accra Accra ( / ə ˈ k r ɑː / ; Ga : Ga or Gaga ; Twi : Nkran ; Ewe: Gɛ; Dagbani : Ankara ) is the capital and largest city of Ghana , located on

3392-456: The principal occupations. Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wife's money. Succession to most offices held by women and inheritance of women's property are by matrilineal descent. Inheritance of other property and succession to male-held public offices are by patrilineal descent. Men of the lineage live together in a men's compound, while women, even after marriage, live with their mothers and children in

3456-425: The region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 29 MMDA's (made up of 2 Metropolitan, 23 Municipal and 4 Ordinary Assemblies). Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Area and it's corresponding constituency, is administered by a Chief Executive and a Member of Parliament, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by

3520-458: The second most populous (total number of people) region of Ghana behind the Ashanti Region . Owing to in-migration and a high population growth rate, however, the region has the highest population density in the country.Greater Accra is the regional capital of Ghana. The Ga sub-group of the Ga-Dangme people is the historical population of Accra. They form the largest ethnic sub-group in

3584-519: The southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea , which is part of the Atlantic Ocean . As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District , 20.4 km (7.9 sq mi), had a population of 284,124 inhabitants, and the larger Greater Accra Region , 3,245 km (1,253 sq mi), had a population of 5,455,692 inhabitants. In common usage, the name "Accra" often refers to the territory of

3648-477: The three separate settlements (Osu, La and Jamestown) merged to become modern Accra. Guggisberg's administration laid out the present grid networked neighbourhoods of Tudu, Adabraka and Asylum Down. Among the achievements of Guggisberg was the building of a bridge across the Korle Lagoon in 1923, which increased settlement at Korle Bu, Korle Gonno and Chokor, to the west of the lagoon. Guggisberg also oversaw

3712-726: The windy harmattan season, the city experiences a breezy "dry heat" that feels less warm than the "cooler" but more humid rainy season. As a coastal city, Accra is vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and sea level rise, with population growth putting increasing pressure on the coastal areas. Drainage infrastructure is particularly at risk, which has profound implications for people's livelihoods, especially in informal settlements. Inadequate planning regulation and law enforcement, as well as perceived corruption in government processes, lack of communication across government departments and lack of concern or government co-ordination with respect to building codes are major impediments to progressing

3776-596: The world of the dead. The Gas used the reference to the invasive species of dark-red swarming ants to connote the military prowess of the Gas and their ancient conquest of Guang speakers residing in the Accra Plains. The name Ga is actually a cognate of the name Akan , one of a few words in which [g] corresponds to [k] in Akan. Ga also gave its name to the Ga districts surrounding Accra. The spelling Accra

3840-403: The year. The mean monthly temperature ranges from 25.9 °C (78.6 °F) in August (the coolest) to 29.6 °C (85.3 °F) in March (the hottest), with an annual average of 27.6 °C (81.7 °F). The "cooler" months, which are summer months tend to be more humid than the warmer months, which are winter and spring months. As a result, during the warmer months and particularly during

3904-514: Was carved out of the Accra Metropolitan District in 2018 with an administrative capital at Darkuman Kokompe . Greater Accra Region The Greater Accra Region has the smallest area of Ghana 's 16 administrative regions , occupying a total land surface of 3,245 square kilometres. This is 1.4 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. It is the most populated region , with a population of 5,455,692 in 2021, accounting for 17.7 per cent of Ghana's total population. The Greater Accra region

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3968-618: Was carved out of the Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal District in 2018. Its administrative capital is Nungua . La Dadekotopon Municipal District The La Dadekotopon Municipal District, with its administrative capital at La, was carved out of the Accra Metropolitan District in 2012. The Kotoka International Airport, Airport City, Accra Mall, and the US Embassy are located within the district, which covers an area of 32 km (12 sq mi). Other communities within this district include Cantonments, Labone, and Burma Camp. Ablekuma North Municipal District The Ablekuma North Municipal District

4032-510: Was created by the Greater Accra Region Law (PNDCL 26) as a legally separate region. The Greater Accra Region is bordered on the north by the Eastern Region , on the east by the Volta Region , on the south by the Gulf of Guinea , and on the west by the Central Region . It is smallest region of Ghana in total area, and is made up of 16 administrative areas. The Ga people celebrate the Homowo festival, which literally means "hooting at hunger." This festival originated several centuries ago. It

4096-405: Was given to Nkran by Europeans . An earlier spelling used by the Danes was Akra. The main Ga group known as the Tumgwa Were led by Ayi Kushie arrived by sea. When the Guan ( Lartehs ) on the coast saw them on their canoes at sea, they looked like ants. Hence, the Lartehs refer to them as Nkran (ants). Nkran was later corrupted by the Danes to Akra, then to present-day Accra. Nkran in

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