Sekondi-Takoradi

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Sekondi-Takoradi
City of Sekondi-Takoradi
—  City  —
Sekondi-Takoradi Shores

Logo of the City Metropolitan Assembly
Sekondi-Takoradi is located in Ghana
Sekondi-Takoradi
Location of Sekondi-Takoradi in Western Region, Ghana
Coordinates: 04°55′00″N 01°46′00″W / 4.91667°N 1.76667°W / 4.91667; -1.76667
Country Ghana
Admin. Region Western Region
District Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan
Population (2012)
 • Total 445,205[1]
  Ranked 4th in Ghana
Website http://www.stma.gov.gh/

Sekondi-Takoradi is a city comprising the twin cities of Sekondi and Takoradi, is the capital of Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan District and the Western Region of Ghana. Sekondi-Takoradi is the Western Region's largest city and an industrial and commercial center, with a population of 445,205 people (2012).[1]

The chief industries in Sekondi-Takoradi are timber, plywood, shipbuilding and railroad repair and recently, Sweet crude oil and crude oil.[2] Sekondi-Takoradi lies on the main railway lines to Kumasi and Accra.

Contents

History [edit]

Sekondi, older and larger, 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 was the site of Dutch Fort Witsen (1665) and has an important deepwater seaport, Ghana's first, built in 1928.[2][3] During World War II, Takoradi Air Base was an important staging point for British aircraft destined for Egypt.[4] 26 Squadron SAAF was also based in Takoradi during WWII flying anti-submarine and convoy protection patrols over the Atlantic. A number of South African airmen are buried in the Takoradi European Public cemetery.[5] The cities combined in 1946. On November 20, 1969, the city became the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sekondi–Takoradi.

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 over the world.

Harbour and economy [edit]

Takoradi is also a port city and has timber, energy, and technology industries. Over the years it has attracted a good number of investors, including miners, as the city is close to the mining towns in the western part of Ghana.[3]

Tourist attractions [edit]

Sekondi-Takoradi has a lot of beautiful beaches which also attract tourists from throughout the world, such as Busua Beach.[2]

Education [edit]

Sekondi-Takoradi city has has several secondary schools, colleges, and special schools, ranging from single-sex to coeducational institutions. Sekondi Takoradi houses Takoradi Polytechnic (A Tertiary Institution), Nurses and Midwifery Training College, Holy Child Teachers Training College (Now a College of Education).[6] The Sekondi-Takoradi city currently has several secondary schools, colleges, and Special schools, ranging from single-sex to coeducational institutions. These include: These include:

Takoradi Technical Institute houses a Fab lab, equipped by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), which is the first of its kind in Africa.[6]

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, St. Mary Secondary School, Bompeh Secondary School, Takoradi Secondary School and many others. Sekondi-Takoradi has many internet cafés and computer training centres to encourage familiarity with computers and acquire computer skills.

Stadiums and sports [edit]

Sekondi-Takoradi Stadium

Stadiums [edit]

  • [[Essipong Sta'Bold Italic t

exttext'dium]]

Sports [edit]

Professional sports teams based in Sekondi-Takoradi include:

Sister cities [edit]

Country City County / District / Region / State Date
United States USA Flag of Boston.svg Boston Flag of Massachusetts.svg Massachusetts 2001
United States USA Flag of Oakland, California.svg Oakland Flag of California.svg California 1975
England England PlymouthCoatArms.jpg Plymouth Flag of Devon.svg Devon 2003

Photo gallery [edit]

See also [edit]

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b "World Gazetteer online". World-gazetteer.com. 
  2. ^ a b c http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0844338.html Infoplease.com entry on Sekondi-Takoradi
  3. ^ a b http://www.ghanaports.gov.gh/GPHA/takoradi/index.html Port of Takoradi
  4. ^ http://www.bibliovault.org/BV.book.epl?BookId=3985 Review of Soldiers Airmen Spies & Whisperers: Gold Coast In World War II
  5. ^ http://www.southafricawargraves.org/lists/ghana.htm South African War Graves Project
  6. ^ a b c Schools in Sekondi-Takoradi. ghanaschoolsonline.com.

External links [edit]

Coordinates: 04°55′N 01°46′W / 4.917°N 1.767°W / 4.917; -1.767