Winneba
Winneba, traditionally known as Simpa,[1] also (informally) known as the Land of the Gharteys because its royals and many of its inhabitants bear this name, is an historic fishing town in Ghana, lying on the south coast, 35 miles (56 km) west of Accra[2] and 90 miles (140 km) east of Cape Coast.[1] The population was recorded as 40,017 in a census in 2000.[3] Its inhabitants are known as Simpafo or Effutufo.[4] It is the capital of the Awutu/Effutu/Senya District in Central Region.
Industry and culture
The main industries of Winneba are fishing and pottery. It is known for the Aboakyer deer-hunting festival of the Effutu people and its New Year fancy dress carnival/mascarading festival.[5] The town has a rich musical tradition and currently boasts of several renowned musical groups in the country, including the Winneba Youth Choir, the Osimpam Ompeh group . The University of Education, Winneba is one of the educational institutions in Ghana. Until 1966 it was the Kwame Nkrumah Institute of Ideology.
History
Winneba was founded by Osimpam Bondzie Abe 1 who had established a settlement there by 1400 AD.[6] During the colonial era, (Effutu)Winneba served as a port town between Europe and the-then Gold Coast.[7]
The first Christian body to be founded in Winneba was the Methodist Society in 1883.[8] Pentecostalism (or spiritism/prophet-healing) in Winneba can be traced back to the introduction, in the 1930s, of the Musama Disco Christo Church; in 1976, there were some 30 churches in Winneba, about half of them Pentecostal.[9] Winneba hosted the headquarters of the Apostolic Church in Ghana until 1966, when the National Council replaced the then pastor, a native from Winneba, with someone from outside. The local congregation seceded to form the Christ Revival Church, but after four years, most church members had drifted back to the Apostolic church.[10]
Notable people from Winneba
- Alex Quaison-Sackey a Ghanaian diplomat.
- David Ghartey Tagoe U.N. Expert in Broadcasting.
- Joseph Ghartey Former Minister of Justice and former Attorney General in the Republic of Ghana
- Daniel Asiedu Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer for Zenith Bank Ghana Ltd
Sister city
References
- ^ a b "Central Region". Ghana Embassy in Japan. http://www.ghanaembassy.or.jp/region/centern.html. Retrieved 28 April 2006.
- ^ Kwesi Ewusi Brown, "Social Conflicts in Contemporary Effutu Festivals", 2005, Masters Thesis for Bowling Green State University, advisor Steven Cornelius, p. 1
- ^ Brinkhoff, Thomas (2006). "City population — Ghana". http://www.citypopulation.de/Ghana.html. Retrieved 28 April 2006.
- ^ Brown, 2005, pp. 2-3
- ^ Brown, 2005, p. 3
- ^ "Effutu Aboakyer Festival" (PDF). http://66.249.93.104/search?q=cache:EtPw6UhV07MJ:8ung.at/ghana/EFFUTU.pdf. Retrieved 28 April 2006.
- ^ Brown, 2005, p. 1
- ^ Wyllie, Robert W. (1974) 'Pastors and prophets in Winneba, Ghana: their social background and career development', Africa, 44, 2, 186-193.
- ^ Wyllie, Robert W. (1980) The spirit-seekers: new religious movements in southern Ghana (Studies in religion, no. 21). Missoula, MT: Scholars Press.
- ^ Wyllie, Robert W. (1985) 'The christ revival church: a short-lived secession in Winneba', Research Review, Institute of African Studies, 1, 2, 174-179.
- ^ Tasha Kates (November 15, 2009). "Residents chime in on city clock designs". The Daily Progress. http://www2.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/local_govtpolitics/article/residents_chime_in_on_city_clock_designs/48880/.
External links