Greater Accra Region | |
|---|---|
 Aerial View of Accra | |
 Location of Greater Accra Region in Ghana | |
| Country | Ghana |
| Capital | Accra |
| Districts | 29 |
| Government | |
| • Regional Minister | Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo |
| • Mayor | Mohammed Adjei Sowah |
| Area | |
• Total | 3,245 km2 (1,253 sq mi) |
| • Rank | Ranked 10th |
| Population (2021 Census)[1] | |
• Total | 5,455,692 |
| • Rank | Ranked 2nd |
| • Density | 1,681/km2 (4,354/sq mi) |
| GDP (PPP) | |
| • Year | 2013 |
| • Per capita | $5,150 |
| GDP (Nominal) | |
| • Year | 2013 |
| • Per capita | $2,500 |
| Time zone | GMT |
| Area code | 030 |
| ISO 3166 code | GH-AA |
| HDI(2021) |  0.707[2]high ·1st |
TheGreater Accra Region has the smallest area ofGhana's16 administrative regions, occupying a total land surface of 3,245 square kilometres.[3] This is 1.4 per cent of the total land area of Ghana. It is themost populated region, with a population of 5,455,692 in 2021, accounting for 17.7 per cent of Ghana's total population.[4][5]
The Greater Accra region is the most urbanized region in the country, with 87.4% of its total population living in urban centres.[6] Thecapital city of Greater Accra Region isAccra which is at the same time the capital city of Ghana.
In 1960, Greater Accra, then referred to as Accra Capital District, was geographically part of theEastern Region. It was, however, administered separately by the Minister responsible for local government. With effect from 23 July 1982, Greater Accra was created by the Greater Accra Region Law (PNDCL 26) as a legally separate region.[7]
The Greater Accra Region is bordered on the north by theEastern Region, on the east by theVolta Region, on the south by theGulf of Guinea, and on the west by theCentral Region. It is smallest region of Ghana in total area, and is made up of 29 administrative areas.
TheGa people celebrate theHomowo festival, which literally means "hooting at hunger." This festival originated several centuries ago. It is celebrated in remembrance of a great famine that hit the Ga people in the sixteenth century. It is mainly a food festival which celebrates the passing of that terrible period in Ga history. It takes place in August every year and is celebrated by all the Ga clans.
The Adangbe people from Ada celebrate theAsafotu festival, which is also called 'Asafotufiam', an annual warrior's festival celebrated by Ada people from the last Thursday of July to the first weekend of August commemorates the victories of the warriors in battle and is a memorial for those who fell on the battlefield. To re-enact these historic events, the warriors dress in traditional battle dress and stage a mock battle. This is also a time for male rites of passage, when young men are introduced to warfare. The festival also coincides with the harvest cycle, when these special customs and ceremonies are performed. These include purification ceremonies. The celebration reaches its climax with a durbar of chiefs, a colourful procession of the Chiefs in palanquins with their retinue. They are accompanied by traditional military groups called 'Asafo Companies' amidst drumming, singing and dancing through the streets and on the durbar grounds. At the durbar, greetings are exchanged between the chiefs, libations are poured and declarations of allegiance are made.
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The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 29 MMDA's (made up of 2 Metropolitan, 23 Municipal and 4 Ordinary Assemblies).[1] Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Area and it's corresponding constituency, is administered by a Chief Executive and a Member of Parliament, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The MMDA's were increased from 3 to 5 in 1988; then from 5 to 6 in 2004; then from 6 to 10 in 2008; then from 10 to 16 in 2012; and recently from 16 to 29 in 2018. The number of constituencies increased/spread from 22 to 27 in 2004 making and 34 prior to the2012 Ghanaian general election.The current list is as follows:
Thecenter of population of the Greater Accra region is located in theGreater Accra Metropolitan Area which comprises theAccra Metropolitan,Tema Metropolitan,Adenta Municipal,La Nkwantanang Madina Municipal District,Ashaiman Municipal,Ledzokuku-Krowor Municipal,Ga East Municipal,Ga West Municipal, andGa South Municipal districts[9]
According to the 2010 census, the region had a population of 4,010,054, making it the second most populous (total number of people) region ofGhana behind theAshanti Region.[4] Owing to in-migration and a high population growth rate, however, the region has the highestpopulation density in the country. Greater Accra is the regional capital of Ghana.
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 1,431,099 | — |
| 2000 | 2,905,726 | +103.0% |
| 2010 | 4,010,054 | +38.0% |
| 2021 | 5,455,692 | +36.1% |
| source:[10] | ||
TheGa sub-group of theGa-Dangme people is the historical population of Accra. They form the largest ethnic sub-group in the Greater Accra Region, with 18.9% of the population.[11][circular reference] The Ga peoples were organized into six independent towns (Accra (Ga Mashie), Osu, La, Teshie,Nungua, andTema). Each town had a stool, which served as the central object of Ga ritual and war magic. Now, the town of La has a community bank which offers banking services to them.[12] Accra became the most prominent Ga-Dangme towns and is now the heartbeat and capital of Ghana. The Ga people were originally farmers, but today fishing and trading in imported goods are the principal occupations. Trading is generally in the hands of women, and a husband has no control over his wife's money. Succession to most offices held by women and inheritance of women's property are by matrilineal descent. Inheritance of other property and succession to male-held public offices are by patrilineal descent. Men of the lineage live together in a men's compound, while women, even after marriage, live with their mothers and children in a women's compound. Each Ga town has a number of different cults and many gods, and there are a number of annual town festivals. The Adangme people occupy the coastal area of Ghana from Le Kpone to Ada, on theVolta River and South Atlantic Ocean along theGulf of Guinea and inland along the Volta River. The Adangme People include the Ada, Le Kpone, Krobo, Ningo, Osuduku, Prampram, and Shai, all speaking Adangbe of the Kwa branch of the Niger-Congo family of languages. The Adangme People have the largest Population among the two related Ga-Adangme People. About 70% of the Greater Accra Regional Land is owned by the Adangmes located in Dangme East and Dangme West Districts of Ghana.
1.3% of the inhabitants of the Greater Accra Region are immigrants from outside Ghana.
The largest portion of the population of Accra isAkan, at 39.8% of the population. The next largest group isGa-Dangme at 30.7% of the population. After this 18% of the population isEwe.[13] The Ga sub-group of the Ga-Dangme people is the historical population of Accra. They form the largest ethnic sub-group in the Greater Accra Region, with 18.9% of the population. The Fante are the next largest ethnic sub-group, with 10% of the population.
In 1960 the population of the Greater Accra Region was 491,817. In 2000 the population was 2,905,726. In 2010 the population was 4,010,054.[13][4]
The religious affiliations of the people of the Greater Accra region are below:[1]
The Greater Accra region is served by theKotoka International Airport inAccra. The airport offers flight to destinations within Ghana, the African continent and to other continents.
FourNational highways – N1, N2, N4 and N6 – and one Regional highway – R40 – pass through the Greater Accra region.N1 enters the region in Ada to the east and runs west, intersecting theN2 atTema, theGhana Road Network Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, and theN6 atAchimota. It passes throughKokrobite and exits the region atWeija where it continues on through theCentral Region to Elubo in theWestern region. TheN2 crosses theEastern Regional border into Asikuma and runs north entering theUpper East Region, ending atKulungugu. TheN4 heads north from the Tetteh Quarshie Interchange, while theN6 originates from Achimota. These highways cut through the northern part of the region and terminate atKumasi in theAshanti Region.
There is also an activerailway line connectingAccra andTema.
Greater Accra has three public four-year institutions, theUniversity of Ghana inAccra,Ghana Institute of Journalism andUniversity of Professional Studies,East Legon, Accra. In addition, there are a number of private universities and university colleges spread through the region.
| Famous native citizens of Greater Accra | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Citizen | Settlement |
| 1 | Sarkodie | Tema |
| 2 | Stonebwoy | Ashaiman |
| 3 | Joselyn Canfor Dumas | Accra |
| 4 | Azumah Nelson | Accra |
| 5 | Arthur Wharton | Accra |
| 6 | Nana Aba Anamoah | Accra |
| 7 | Asamoah Gyan | Accra |
| 8 | Leo Myles-Mills | Accra |
| 9 | Shatta Wale | Korle Gonno |
| 10 | Serwaa Amihere | Accra |
Places adjacent to Greater Accra Region | |
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| Geographic | |
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| Other | |
