Accra

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Location of Accra

Labadi Beach

Downtown Accra

Accra, population 1,970,400 (2005), is the capital of Ghana. It is Ghana's largest city and its administrative, communications, and economic center. The primary economic activities are financial and other services, agriculture, fishing, and manufacturing such as processed food, lumber and plywood, textiles, clothing, and chemicals. Accra is located at 5°30' North, 0°10' West (5.5, -0.1667). [link] It sits nears the Greenwich Meridian in the Accra Metropolitan Area, in the Greater Accra Region.

Accra was founded by the Ga people in the 15th century as a centre for trade with the Portuguese, who built a fort in the town, followed by the Swedish, Dutch, French, British and Danish by the end of the seventeenth century.

The site of present-day Accra developed into a sizable town around British, Danish and Dutch forts: Jamestown the British district, Osu the Danish, and Ussherstown the Dutch, the three areas forming the core of the modern city.

At the end of the British-Asante Wars, Accra became the capital of the British Gold Coast colony. After the completion of a railroad to the mining and agricultural hinterland, Accra became the economic center of Ghana. Large areas were destroyed by earthquakes in 1862 and 1939, but the city grew around a seaport (now relocated to Tema), and later a brewery, expanding into neighbouring towns.

The Accra Riots in 1948 launched the Ghanaian campaign for independence, which led to the Ghana's independence from Great Britain and nationhood in 1957.

Accra is home to the National Museum of Ghana, the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, the National Archives of Ghana, and Ghana's central library. Also of note is Christianborg or Osu Castle -- the seat of government, built by the Danes in the 17th century, the National Theatre, Accra Centre for National Culture, a lighthouse, the National Sports Stadium, the W.E.B. DuBois Memorial Centre for Pan-African Culture and several beaches. Near the Parliament of Ghana is the Ghana-India Kofi Annan Centre for Excellence in ICT.

On Accra's outskirts are Achimota Secondary School which was founded in 1924 and opened in 1927, and Presby Boys' Secondary School and some of the country's leading secondary schools and, 13km north at Legon, the University of Ghana. The Defense Commission of the Organization of African Unity has its headquarters in Accra.

Today, Accra is a major transportation hub, home to the Kotoka International Airport and lies on railway lines to Tema, Takoradi and Kumasi. The main harbour city, Tema is connected through the one of Ghana's highways.

The people of Accra are known for their warmth, kindness and hospitality.

External links

• [Accra Taxi Ride] - video of Accra seen through a taxi window. This video does not represent the whole of Accra and appears to be mostly part of a small slum area. There are lots of beautiful parts of Accra such as the lovely beaches, nice residential areas, and the central business district that are not shown in this video.

Portuguese Empire — Former colonies & present overseas territories''' 

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