Some coastal towns and their original names in Ghana

The arrival of the Europeans traders on the shores of Ghana brought numerous of changes in the social and economic life of indegenous Societies.

One of the effect of the partition of European traders especially on the coastal States was changing of names of some towns to the language of their understanding.

Upon their arrival because of the what they came and found in Land, they named it Gold Coast due to the abundance of Gold deposit in the country.

Here are some of the nortable Coastal communities with their  original names that were changed by the Europeans

Oguaa(Cape Coast):The first administration town of Gold Coast and the cradle of Gold Coast civilization.

Cape Coast castle was the residence of the Governor and major trading center for both European and African business merchants.

Numerous of Educational facilities were setup to train mollatoes and kids of prominent businessmen and chiefs. The first Senior High School was built in Cape coast.

People of Cape Coast (Oguaa) celebrate Fetu festival

2.Simpa(Winneba) : The celebrant of the Aboakyer Festival is located in the Central Region of Ghana. The original name of Winneba was Simpa the name was given by the early inhabitants led by Owura Simpa.

Through the intervention of the European ,the name was changed to Winneba.

People of Winneba are mostly fishermen due to the existence of a the Sea. One factor that put Winneba on the Map is University of Education, the prestigious university that trained teachers for nation building

3. Akatakyi(Komenda): Komenda was used to replaced “akatakyi”which means ‘brave or warrior’ in the Fante dialect. Komenda is now the capital for Komenda Edina Eguafo. Komenda is known for it producing of high amount of sugar in the country.

During the Nkrumah government,he established Komenda Sugar Factory which employs more youth in the area.

4.Akyenfo (Saltpond): This is a town tagged as the home of Ghana politics because the first and second political movement in Ghana UGCC and CPP was formed in Saltpond respectively.

The name was changed from ‘Akyenfo’ meaning people with salt to Saltpond.

Saltpond is among the oldest town we can mention in the history of Ghana.

Some of the prominent personalities who hails from Saltpond include Professor Francis Allotey mathematician and Scientists and Africa Outstanding poet Ama Atta Aidoo.

Edina (Elimina): The place that was first settled by the early Portuguese  who arrived in Gold Coast led by Don Diego Dr Azambuja in 1471. The original name  was changed due to differences in language, the Portuguese find it difficult to pronounce the local Edina and twisted it to Elimina.It was also known as Costa Da Mina .Elimina became a famous business center for Portuguese merchant and the local people who needed some of the European goods for their daily activities

The oldest castle in Ghana is located in Elimina