Early Settlers
 The tremendous growth of Sekondi-Takoradi was not achieved overnight. It has had its ups and downs. History has it that the first inhabitants of the Sekondi-Takoradi area were Fanti from Kormantsim near Saltpond, in the Central Region, who came to fish at Adjua near Takoradi. However, they found the surfs of Adjua too rough and the inhabitants unfriendly so they decided to go back. When they reached Takoradi, they were attracted by the favourable surfs and the welcoming environment and therefore decided to settle at Amanful and the area around the Ayire estuary as well as the present Takoradi Harbour area. The original village of Takoradi as situated on a hill but was later demolished for the expansion of the harbour. New Takoradi was subsequently established to accommodate the displaced people..
External Trade
Sekondi-Takoradi, like most coastal towns of Ghana had a long association with the Europeans from the 15th century onwards. The Ahanta area, which covers the metropolis and the entire southeastern part of the Western Region, was a scene of an intense trade with Europeans.
During the second half of the 17th Century the slave trade increased rapidly with the expanding plantation economies on other continents. With the Ashantis, the Europeans traded for slaves from the northern areas in exchange for arms and ammunition. But, this trade was more important in the Elmina and Cape Coast areas and further east than in the Sekondi and Takoradi areas. Here, the trade in gold was rather more important. With the consent of the local chief, the Dutch established themselves at Sekondi around 1640 and at Butre in 1644 where they previously had a ‘lodge’. The Dutch built Fort Orange. After a period of mutual competition and distrust between them and the British in 1872, all Dutch possessions were sold to the British.
The Portuguese explorers, who landed in the country in 1471 named it Gold Coast, because of the abundance of gold and made the territory their home. The Dutch, Danes, British, French and Swedes later followed and pitch their forts and castles along coast of the country due to the riches of the land and the good conduct of the people. The Sekondi-Takoradi area in particular and the entire southeastern part of the Western Region in general soon become the scene of intense trade with Europeans.
There was competition for trade among the Portuguese, French, Swedes, Dutch, Danes and British for products such as ivory, pepper, palm oil and especially gold which were exchanged for manufactured European goods. They had less attention then for local timber, which has now become very important for the economy of Sekondi-Takoradi. People travel frequently from far and near to have a feel of the Ghanaian hospitality, which is even more pronounced in the twin city of Sekondi-Takoradi with its numerous tourist attractions. Its proximity to La Cote d’Ivoire and the current tourism capital of Cape Coast in the Central Region places its in a strategic position.
Emergence of Takoradi
 Frederick William, the Great Elector of Brandenbury, King of Prussia, also made attempts to establish trade and colonise this part of the country. The Brandenburgers built a small fort at Taccarary [Takoradi], a place that had been neglected by the Dutch. The trade and investments into Sekondi and Takoradi attracted people to the area, resulting in a boost of its economic strength. At the beginning of the 20th Century, a wharf was built at Sekondi to mark a significant industrial and commercial leap in the area. More foreigners were attracted into the area and it became known as ‘European Town’. The construction during that period of the railway line connecting Sekondi with the gold mines at Tarkwa and Obuasi and the vibrant economic activity in Kumasi was a further incentive to the growth of the Metropolis.
A new and modern harbour was built at Takoradi for the country in 1928 after the site had been chosen for that project in 1920. When the harbour was constructed, Sekondi lost its economic and commercial importance because the main shopping centre, which used to be at ‘European Town’ moved to Takoradi, thereby necessitating new houses to be built for them and an urbanization plan put in place. A gridiron pattern was planned for the indigenous areas, while the Europeans settled at the most attractive residential areas adjacent to the coast and at Takoradi Harbour area.
The commercial and economic importance of Takoradi resulted in a decision by the authorities to include it in the Town Council in 1956 linking the two places up as a twin city. The seat of authority however remained in Sekondi and its Town Council became a City Council in 1962.
With the construction of the much bigger and deeper port of Tema much of the shipping and its associated economic activities shifted from Sekondi Takoradi. That notwithstanding, Sekondi Takoradi which is governed by the Shama Ahanta East Metropolitan Assembly [SAEMA] is still considered as one of the most important areas with tremendous economic opportunities in Ghana
|
About Sekondi Takoradi : The tremendous growth of Sekondi-Takoradi was not achieved overnight. It has had its ups...
Business Climate:The Western Region is the richest in forest resources and therefore timber logging and processing of wood related products constitute an important economic activity.Prime wood...
Western Region : The Western Region covers an area of approximately 21,391 square kilometres, which is about 10 per cent of Ghana’s total land area. The region has about 75...
Tourist Attractions : The Western Region is endowed with rich natural resources and potential tourism assets, something which makes it a major tourist attraction...
