Sekondi-Takoradi is a city in Ghana comprising the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi. It is the capital of Sekondi – Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly and the Western Region of Ghana. Sekondi-Takoradi is the region's largest city and an

industrial Industrial may refer to: Industry * Industrial archaeology, the study of the history of the industry * Industrial engineering, engineering dealing with the optimization of complex industrial processes or systems * Industrial city, a city dominate ...

and commercial centre, with a population of 445,205 people (2012). The chief industries in Sekondi-Takoradi are timber, cocoa processing, plywood, shipbuilding, its

harbour A harbor (American English), harbour (British English; see spelling differences), or haven is a sheltered body of water where ships, boats, and barges can be docked. The term ''harbor'' is often used interchangeably with ''port'', which is a ...

and railway repair, and recently, sweet crude oil and

crude oil Petroleum, also known as crude oil, or simply oil, is a naturally occurring yellowish-black liquid mixture of mainly hydrocarbons, and is found in geological formations. The name ''petroleum'' covers both naturally occurring unprocessed crude ...

. The fundamental job in Sekondi-Takoradi is fishing. Sekondi-Takoradi lies on the main railway lines to Kumasi and

Accra Accra (; tw, Nkran; dag, Ankara; gaa, Ga or ''Gaga'') is the capital and largest city of Ghana, located on the southern coast at the Gulf of Guinea, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. As of 2021 census, the Accra Metropolitan District, , ...

History

Sekondi, an older and larger Ahanta town, was the site of Dutch Fort Orange (1642) and English Fort Sekondi (1682). It prospered from a railroad built in 1903 to hinterland mineral and timber resources. Takoradi, also an Ahanta town, was the site of Dutch

Fort Witsen Fort Witsen, also Fort Tacaray, was a fort on the Dutch Gold Coast, established in 1665 near Takoradi. This fort was destroyed after a few years, and in 1684 the site was abandoned. A map from 1791 shows, however, that the Dutch had renewed their p ...

(1665) and has an important deepwater seaport, Ghana's first, built in 1928."Takoradi Port"
Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority. During World War II,

RAF Takoradi Takoradi Airport is an airport in Sekondi-Takoradi, a city and capital of Western Region southern Ghana. It is the fourth busiest airport in Ghana, with 92,949 passengers in 2021. History Second World War : Takoradi air route During World ...

was an important staging point for British aircraft destined for Egypt. Spitfire fighter planes were shipped in crates from England to Takoradi where they were assembled then flown via Nigeria and Sudan to the war in Libya.

26 Squadron SAAF 26 Squadron SAAF is a disbanded squadron of the South African Air Force. The squadron was based at Takoradi, Gold Coast (now Ghana) on the West Coast of Africa during World War II. They flew Vickers Wellingtons on anti-submarine and convoy escort ...

was also based in Takoradi during World War II, flying anti-submarine and convoy protection patrols over the Atlantic. A number of South African airmen are buried in the Takoradi European Public cemetery. The cities combined in 1946. On 20 November 1969, the city became the seat of the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Sekondi–Takoradi The Roman Catholic Diocese of Sekondi–Takoradi ( la, Sekondien(sis)–Takoradien(sis)) is a diocese located in the city of Sekondi-Takoradi in the Ecclesiastical province of Cape Coast in Ghana. History * November 20, 1969: Established as Dioces ...

. The city is currently named (although not officially) as the Oil City of Ghana due to the massive discovery of oil in the Western region and has attracted massive migration from people all around the world. For example, of the 248,680 people in the Sekondi-Takoradi metro area in 2010, some 148,000, or well above half, were indigenous Ahanta people, 30,000 came from the central region of Ghana, 60,000 are from other regions of Ghana and 10,000 are foreign nationals.

Demographics

Sekondi-Takoradi's population is overwhelmingly Christian. 35% of the region are Pentecostal/Charismatic, 26% are Protestant and 14% are Catholic with the remaining 12% comprising numerous minor denominations. 9% of the population are Muslim, 3.5% identify as non religious and 0.2% practice traditional African religions The major ethnic group found in Sekondi are the Ahanta people.

Economy

Takoradi houses the Harbour and has timber, energy and technology industries. Over the years it has attracted a good number of investors, including

miner A miner is a person who extracts ore, coal, chalk, clay, or other minerals from the earth through mining. There are two senses in which the term is used. In its narrowest sense, a miner is someone who works at the rock face; cutting, blasting, ...

s, as the city is close to the mining towns in the western part of Ghana. Ghana's recent discovery of oil gave the Sekondi-Takoradi township to be known as the Oil City.

Transportation

There are public transport connections from Takoradi to major cities such as

; Kumasi;

Mim MIM or Mim may refer to: Places * Mim, Ahafo, Ghana * Mim Lake, Ghana * Mim Bour, or Mim Mountains, Ghana Education * Master of Management, a post-graduate master's degree * Master of Information Management, an interdisciplinary degree progra ...

;

Cape Coast Cape Coast is a city, fishing port, and the capital of Cape Coast Metropolitan District and Central Region of Ghana. It is one of the country's most historic cities, a World Heritage Site, home to the Cape Coast Castle, with the Gulf of Guinea ...

; Sunyani; Tamale; Tema; Ho; Wa; Bolgatanga; Elubo; Aflao; and Techiman.

Tourist attractions

Sekondi-Takoradi has plenty of beaches, however they are not a major tourist attraction. Many of the beaches are found to the west of Takoradi, with small resorts such as Fanta's Folly, The Hideout, and Green Turtle Lodge with larger ones such as

Busua Beach Busua is a beach resort and fishing village in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region in Ghana, about 30 kilometers west of the regional capital, Sekondi-Takoradi in the Gulf of Guinea. Busua is classified in the category of towns with ...

, Lou Moon Lodge and Axim Beach Resort and also amazing places to eat such as Scoops Bar, Paragon Bar and Grill. It also has an annual

street carnival Carnival is a Catholic Christian festive season that occurs before the liturgical season of Lent. The main events typically occur during February or early March, during the period historically known as Shrovetide (or Pre-Lent). Carnival typi ...

, which is popular with tourists. There is also the village of Nzulezu (village on water) which is a popular tourist site, in the Western Region.

Education

Sekondi-Takoradi city has several secondary schools, colleges, and special schools, ranging from single-sex to coeducational institutions. Among the tertiary institutions are: Takoradi Technical University (a public institution), Nurses and Midwifery Training College, Holy Child Teachers Training College (now a College of Education).
The Sekondi-Takoradi city currently has several secondary schools and Special schools, ranging from single-sex to coeducational institutions. These include: * St. John's School, Sekondi, St. John's School (The Saints) St Johns Sschool Sekondi

* Ghana Senior High Technical School (GSTS) * Baidoo Bonsoe Senior High Technical School (BBSTS) * St Mary's Boys Senior High School * Takoradi Secondary School (Tadisco) * Methodist senior high school ( The Young legend) * Sekondi College (Sekco) * Ahantaman Senior High School *

Fijai Secondary School Fijai Senior High School, formerly Fijai Secondary School, is a co-educational senior high school located in the Western Region of Ghana. The name Fijai is from the native dialect "Afei Gyae Me", which literally means "Now, leave me alone". H ...

* Adiembra Secondary School * Bompeh senior high technical school *

Archbishop Porter Girls Secondary School The Archbishop Porter Girls' Senior High School (abbreviated as APGSHS) is a Catholic senior secondary school for girls, located in Takoradi in the Western Region of Ghana. The female second cycle institution operates within the Ghana Public Educa ...

and many others. Takoradi Technical Institute houses a fab lab, equipped by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is the first of its kind in Africa. Takoradi has a well-equipped technical training centre (Takoradi Technical Institute, TTI, 1,400 students in two shifts) assisted by the German government through GTZ/GOPA. Apart from TTI, Takoradi has a polytechnic and other renowned secondary schools including

Ghana Secondary Technical School The Ghana Secondary Technical School is a science and technology-oriented high school located in Takoradi on the west coast of Ghana. It is the third oldest high school in Ghana - the oldest 'non-missionary' high school. The School was founded ...

, St. Mary Secondary School, Bompeh Secondary School, Takoradi Secondary School and many others. Sekondi-Takoradi has many internet cafés and

computer training Computer literacy is defined as the knowledge and ability to use computers and related technology efficiently, with skill levels ranging from elementary use to computer programming and advanced problem solving. Computer literacy can also refer ...

centres to encourage familiarity with computers and acquire computer skills. The Western Regional Library was established in Sekondi in 1955.

Stadiums and sports

Stadiums

Essipong Stadium The Sekondi Sports Stadium (also known as Essipong Stadium) is a multi-purpose stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. It is used mostly for football matches and serves as the home stadium of Sekondi Hasaacas FC. Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium hosted some m ...

Gyandu Park Gyandu Park is a multi-use stadium in Sekondi-Takoradi, Ghana. The stadium holds 15,000 spectators. It was renovated in 2008 and served as a training pitch for the African Cup teams in Group B. Stadium usage The stadium is used mostly for fo ...

Sports

Professional sports teams based in Sekondi-Takoradi include: * FC Takoradi *

Sekondi Hasaacas Sekondi Hasaacas FC is a Ghanaian professional association football club based in Sekondi-Takoradi. The club won the Ghana Premier League in 1977 and is currently participating in the Division One League following relegation from the 2015-16 Gh ...

Sekondi Wise Fighters Sekondi Eleven Wise Football Club is a Ghanaian professional association football club, based in Sekondi Sekondi-Takoradi is a city in Ghana comprising the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi. It is the capital of Sekondi – Takoradi Metropo ...

Institutions

* Empire FM

Climate

Sekondi-Takoradi has a tropical savanna climate ( Köppen climate classification: ''Aw'').

Sister cities

Palermo Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital (political), capital of both the autonomous area, autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan ...

, Italy (2021) * Boston, United States (2001) *

Oakland Oakland is the largest city and the county seat of Alameda County, California, United States. A major West Coast port, Oakland is the largest city in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, the third largest city overall in the Bay A ...

, United States (1975)

Gallery

References

''Afrosages.com'', Tourist Destinations Of Western Ghana, January 13, 2020
Wildcat Beauty, Cosmetics & More, Market Circle (behind Bank of Africa(, Takoradi, Ghan

External links

Mytakoradi.com

Ghana-pedia webpage – Takoradi
* {{Coord, 04, 55, N, 01, 46, W, display=title Sekondi-Takoradi, Populated places in the Western Region (Ghana) Regional capitals in Ghana