Accra

Accra
Capital city
Accra Accra
Coordinates:5°33′N0°12′W
Sovereign state	Ghana
Region	Greater Accra Region
Districts	10 districts Accra Metropolitan District,La Dade Kotopon Municipal District,Ledzokuku Municipal District,Krowor Municipal District,Okaikwei Municipal District,Ablekuma North Municipal District,Ablekuma West Municipal District,Ayawaso East Municipal District,Ayawaso North Municipal District,Ayawaso West Municipal District
Settled	15th century
Area
• Accra Metropolitan	173 km2(67 sq mi)
Elevation	61 m (200 ft)
Population (2010)
• Accra Metropolitan	1,665,086
Demonym	Accran
Time zone	UTC+0(GMT)
Postcode districts	GA, GL, GZ
Area code	030

Accrais thecapital cityofGhana.It has apopulationof about 1,970,400 (2005). The city is Ghana's largest city. It is also theadministrative,communications,andeconomiccenter of thecountry.The main economicactivitiesin Accra arefinancialandgovernmentservices, communications,construction,transportationandagriculture(mostlyfishing). Most of Ghana's ability to make things is in the capital area.

History of Accra

Central Accra

Accra wasfoundedby theGapeople in the late 1600s. The word Accra comes from the wordNkranmeaningants.This is because of the many anthills seen in the countryside around Accra. During part of its history, Accra was a very important place fortradewith thePortuguese.The Portuguese built afortin the town. Many other countries also built forts at Accra during the17th century.These countries includedSweden,the Netherlands,France,the United KingdomandDenmark.

The location that is Accra today grew into a large town around the original Ga town. As the city grew, theBritish,DanishandDutchforts and the smallcommunitiesthat formed around the forts were made added to the city.

In 1877, at the end of the secondAnglo-Asante War,Accra replacedCape Coastas the capital of the BritishGold Coastcolony. After arailroadwas built between Accra and the inland locations ofminesandfarms,Accra became the economic center of Ghana. Large areas of the city were destroyed byearthquakesin1862and1939,but the city rebuilt around aseaportand later abrewery.Each time it rebuilt, the city was made larger.

TheAccra Riotsin1948started people in Ghana fighting forindependence.This led to theGhana's independence from the United Kingdom and it becoming a country in1957.

Today, Accra is one of the richest and most modern cities in theAfricancontinent.It has a high quality of living by African standards.

Other websites

• Map of AccraArchived2004-01-13 at theWayback Machine
• Google Earth image of Accra, Ghana