Accra Then and Now

Accra Then

Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana, is located along the Gulf of Guinea, an arm of the Atlantic Ocean. 

The city’s name is derived from the Akan word Nkran, meaning “ants,” specifically referring to soldier ants. 

This name was given by Twi speakers, reflecting the numerous anthills found in the region.

In the local Ga language, Accra is known as Ga or Gaga, a name shared with the Ga people. 

Historian Carl Christian Reindorf suggested that the association between ants and the Ga people symbolized their military strength and migratory nature. 

The Ga recognized anthills as sacred sites, often marking them with protective fences, viewing them as spiritual connections between the living and the dead.

The Ga people also used the reference to soldier ants to highlight their dominance over Guang speakers in the Accra Plains. 

Linguistically, the name Ga is related to Akan, demonstrating a historical connection between the two groups. 

European traders, including the Danes, later adapted the name to its present spelling, “Accra.”

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Accra History

The Ga people, specifically the Tumgwa Were group led by Ayi Kushie, were among the first to settle in what is now Accra, arriving by sea. 

Their numbers were so vast that the indigenous Larteh people relocated to the Akuapem Ridge. 

However, Accra was not initially a major trade hub, as ports like Ada and Prampram and inland centers such as Dodowa and Akuse were more significant. 

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European involvement in Accra grew with the construction of forts and castles, including Ussher Fort by the Dutch, James Fort by the British, and Christiansborg Castle by the Swedes, later acquired by Denmark. 

By the 17th century, multiple European powers, including Portugal, France, and Denmark, had established forts in the area.

British dominance in Accra solidified over time, beginning with the purchase of Danish holdings in 1851 and culminating in the acquisition of Dutch forts in 1871. 

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Following the Anglo-Asante War in 1874, the British captured Accra and, three years later, made it the capital of the Gold Coast, replacing Cape Coast due to Accra’s drier climate. 

Initially, the city was confined between Ussher Fort and the Korle Lagoon. 

However, as the colonial administration expanded, new areas such as Osu, Ridge, Labone, and Cantonments emerged as European settlements, while Adabraka was established for the local population after a bubonic plague epidemic in 1908.

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A key moment in Accra’s growth was the construction of the Accra-Kumasi railway in 1908. 

Completed in 1923, the railway connected Accra to Ghana’s cocoa-producing regions, making cocoa the country’s largest export by 1924. 

The colonial government shaped the city’s layout, imposing segregation between European and African communities until 1923 and enforcing strict building regulations. 

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However, major infrastructure developments did not occur until the tenure of Governor Sir Frederick Gordon Guggisberg. 

Under his leadership, Accra’s neighborhoods, including Tudu, Adabraka, and Asylum Down, were planned and developed. 

His administration also constructed a bridge across the Korle Lagoon in 1923, facilitating settlement expansion in Korle Bu, Korle Gonno, and Chokor. 

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Guggisberg further enhanced Accra’s infrastructure by building Korle-Bu Hospital and Achimota School, contributing to a rise in migration into the city from both rural Ghana and Europe. 

These developments laid the foundation for modern Accra, transforming it into a growing urban center and an important hub in Ghana’s colonial history.

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Accra Now

Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana, is a major urban center located along the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean. 

The city is built partly on a cliff, rising between 8 to 12 meters (25 to 40 feet) above sea level, and extends northward across the Accra plains. 

Due to the area’s geological characteristics, Accra experiences occasional earthquakes, a reminder of its susceptibility to faulting.

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As of the 2021 census, Accra’s urban landscape has evolved significantly. 

The Accra Metropolitan District, covering 20.4 km² (7.9 sq mi), had a population of 284,124, while the Greater Accra Region, spanning 3,245 km² (1,253 sq mi), was home to 5,455,692 people. 

Over time, administrative restructuring has reshaped the governance of the city. 

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Before 2008, the Accra Metropolitan District covered a much larger area of 199.4 km² (77.0 sq mi), but it has since been divided into 13 local government districts. 

Of these, 12 became independent municipal districts, while the remaining 20.4 km² retained its designation as the Accra Metropolitan District, the only one officially recognized as a city.

Today, “Accra” is commonly used to refer to the former metropolitan district before its division. 

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This area, which housed 1,782,150 residents in 2021, remains the political and economic heart of Ghana. 

The city continues to expand as a commercial and cultural hub, with modern infrastructure, bustling markets, business districts, and growing residential areas. 

Accra is also home to key institutions, including government offices, educational institutions, and major transport networks, making it the most influential city in Ghana’s development.

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