Accra
Accra | |
---|---|
Coordinates:5°33′N0°12′W/ 5.550°N 0.200°W | |
Sovereign state | Ghana |
Region | Greater Accra Region |
Districts | 10 districts
|
Settled | 15th century |
Area | |
• Accra Metropolitan | 173 km2(67 sq mi) |
Elevation | 61 m (200 ft) |
Population (2010)[2] | |
• 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
[change|change source]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7b/Central_accra-2.jpg/300px-Central_accra-2.jpg)
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.
References
[change|change source]- ↑"Boundary and Administrative Area".Ghanadistricts.com. Archived fromthe originalon 11 July 2011.Retrieved22 July2010.
- ↑"Citypopulation.de".Thomas Brinkhoff.Archivedfrom the original on 20 December 2016.Retrieved25 April2017.
Other websites
[change|change source]![](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- Map of AccraArchived2004-01-13 at theWayback Machine
- Google Earth image of Accra, Ghana