Aflao | |
|---|---|
 View of Aflao and theGhana–Togo border | |
  Aflao Location inVolta Region | |
| Coordinates:06°08′48.4″N01°10′47.6″E / 6.146778°N 1.179889°E /6.146778; 1.179889 | |
| Country |  Ghana |
| Region | Volta Region |
| District | Ketu South District |
| Government | |
| • Municipal chief | Hon. Maxwell Koffie Lugudor |
| Population | |
• Total | 66,546 |
| • Ethnicities | |
| • Religions |
|
| Ranked 28th in Ghana | |
| Time zone | GMT |
| • Summer (DST) | GMT |
| Postal district | VZ |
| Area code | +233 (3625) |
| Climate | Aw |
| Website | ketusouth.gov.gh |
Aflao is aborder town in theKetu South District in theVolta Region ofGhana on theborder withTogo.[4][3] Aflao is the twenty-eighth most populoussettlement in Ghana, in terms of population, with a population of 66,546 people (according to a 2012 estimate).[2] The current municipal chief of Aflao is Hon. Maxwell Koffie Lugudor.[1]
During theAtlantic slave trade, the town grew from interference from theAnlo, towards the west, and Little Popo (Aného) towards the east, located in present-dayTogo. During this time, it change hands from theDanish to theBritish in 1850 due toslavery ending. In 1879, The British added Aflao into theGold Coast after initially not being included.[5]During the late twentieth century, the border became a site of reincurring tensions. At the peak of the1982-83 revolution, the town was under constant surveillance as borderguards andcadres attempted to enforce acurfew. During this time, from 1986 to 1987, Togolese officers installed a fence along the border's southern stretch after attacks from Ghanaian insurgents.[6]
TheDiamond Cement Ghana Limited factory is located at Aflao.[7] In early 2014, a 2.5 km rail siding was completed to connect the cement works to the port ofLomé.[8] This siding crosses the border fromTogo toGhana and is of the1,000 mm (3 ft 3+3⁄8 in) gauge. The total average annually volume of trade that goes through the border crossing, from data in 1996, is 24,876,651 kilograms (54,843,628 lb).[4]: 18
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 20,904 | — |
| 2000 | 38,927 | +86.2% |
| 2010* | 56,988 | +46.4% |
| 2012* | 66,546 | +16.8% |
| *Estimate Source: Ghana Statistical Service.[a] | ||
As of a 2012 estimate, Aflao has a population of 66,546 people.[2] Most of the population is religious, with the largest religion being Christianity. Other popular religions include Islam andtraditional African religions. Historically, Aflao people believed in one universal goddess namedMawu, which is believed to be all powerful and everywhere.[3]: 32, 4 The majority of the population isEwe, followed by theAkan andGa-Adangbe people.[3]: 4
The town's municipality has amayor–council form of government. The mayor (executive chief) is appointed by thepresident of Ghana and approved by the town council, theKetu South Municipal Assembly.[10] As of 2024, the current mayor of the municipal is Hon. Maxwell Koffie Lugudor.[1]
Aflao is located on the eastern coast of Ghana and is a major border town neighboringTogo.[4]: 10
The town is also located in theKetu South Municipal District, which has a total land area of 779 square kilometres (301 sq mi). The municipality borderedTogo to the east,Keta Municipal District towards the west, theKetu North District to the north and theGulf of Guinea towards the south.[3]: 1
Aflao has atropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classificationAw), experiencing a wet season and a dry season annually whilst the dry season occurs from December to February. The wet usually lasts from April to July or from September to October. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 850 to 1,000 mm (2.79 to 3.28 ft) while the mean monthly temperatures are usually from 24 to 30 °C (75 to 86 °F).[3]: 1, 2
Aflao is located in the Aflao traditional area[b] hasTogbui Amenya Fiti V as itsparamount chief.[12] He is the traditional ruler of the land and performs traditional administrative and ceremonial functions in the area.[13]
At the border crossing, the most popular mode of transportation ispushcarts, followed by trucks/cargo trucks.[4]: 11
Aflao is home to a port health unit, a facility under the Port Health Directorate (division of theGhana Health Service) which helps to combat public health emergencies at Ghana's land border crossings.[14]
Media related toAflao at Wikimedia Commons
Aflao travel guide from Wikivoyage06°08′48.4″N01°10′47.6″E / 6.146778°N 1.179889°E /6.146778; 1.179889
Places adjacent to Aflao | |
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Cities and towns ofGhana by population | ||
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| 2,000,000+ |   | |
| 1,000,000+ | ||
| 800,000+ | ||
| 100,000+ | ||
| 80,000+ | ||
| 60,000+ | ||
| 40,000+ | ||
| 20,000+ |
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| 5,000+ | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
