Saltpond

Saltpond
Town

Saltpond skyline and Town centre
Saltpond

Location of Saltpond in Central region, South Ghana

Coordinates: 5°12′N 1°4′W / 5.200°N 1.067°WCoordinates: 5°12′N 1°4′W / 5.200°N 1.067°W
Country Ghana
Region Central Region
District Mfantsiman Municipal
Elevation 1 m (3 ft)
Population (2013)
 • Total 24,689[1]
Time zone GMT
 • Summer (DST) GMT (UTC)

Saltpond is a town and the capital of the Mfantsiman Municipal District in the Central Region of South Ghana. Saltpond has a population of 24,689 people.[1]

Economy

Petroleum

Saltpond is noted for offshore crude oil resources. Saltpond Offshore Producing Company Limited, and two joint venture partners operate the Saltpond Oil Field.[2]

Non-Petroleum

The town is a major market centre in the Mfantsiman Municipality. Fish,and other foodstuffs are traded in the market. It also has several shops. The Ghana Commercial Bank has a branch in the town. In terms of economic prowess however Saltpond has been in a state of decline since the landing beach was abandoned for the Tema and Takoradi harbours in the 1960s. Another factor was the building of a bypass on the N1:Aflao-Elubo Highway around the same time which meant that transit traffic through the town virtually ceased. Most of its factories collapsed. The Saltpond Ceramic factory and the UAC (now Unilever) soft drink factory held on into the early 1990s but failed too. In recent times the town has grown to meet the Bypass and has started thriving again. There is a nice hotel, the Palm Beach hotel perched on top of one of the hills in the town. The schools also offer a good source of employment to the townsfolk. In this regard the Mfantsiman Girl's Senior High School is the biggest single employer. The Saltpond Ceramic Factory has been bought by a Chinese firm which is attempting to revive it. Fishing takes place mainly in the Nankesido a suburb of Saltpond. Maize farming is prominent as well as bee-keeping. The government also has a District Hospital in Saltpond. The Municipal Authority is also a major source of employment in the town.

Climate

The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Aw" (Tropical Savanna Climate).[3]

Climate data for Saltpond
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 32
(90)		 33
(92)		 33
(92)		 33
(91)		 31
(87)		 30
(86)		 29
(84)		 28
(83)		 28
(82)		 31
(88)		 32
(90)		 33
(91)		 31.1
(88)
Average low °C (°F) 24
(75)		 25
(77)		 26
(78)		 26
(78)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 24
(75)		 23
(74)		 22
(72)		 24
(75)		 24
(76)		 24
(76)		 24.2
(75.5)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 8
(0.3)		 13
(0.5)		 51
(2.0)		 127
(5.0)		 152
(6.0)		 152
(6.0)		 76
(3.0)		 25
(1.0)		 76
(3.0)		 76
(3.0)		 25
(1.0)		 13
(0.5)		 794
(31.3)
Avg. precipitation days 0 1 2 2 4 4 5 4 5 4 1 1 33
Source: Myweather2.com[4]

Education

University

The International Ahmadiyya University Of Theology, is located in Mankessim, a suburb of Saltpond.

Pre-University

Saltpond has the Mfantsiman Girls' Senior High School and Saltpond Methodist Senior High School. The two institutions offer the West African Examinations Council's Senior High School Certificate Examination. Mfantsiman Girls' also has a Primary and Junior High School which are uni-sex. The District Authority is in charge of all these schools but they have varying degrees of autonomy. The Anglican Church and some other churches including the Roman Catholic and Methodist all have Basic Schools which offer both Primary and Junior High Education.

Notable residents

Saltpond is the birthplace of Professor Kwesi Dickson, who was a notable Ghanaian academic, theologian, and author.[5] Sir Kobina Arku Korsah, a notable Chief Justice, was also born in Saltpond, as was writer Ama Ata Aidoo. Brigadier-General Erskine, a prominent politician and retired military officer also hails from Saltpond. Paa Grant, the founder of the United Gold Coast Convention is also a prominent citizen. Professor Paul Victor Ansah (popularly known as PAVA), a Ghanaian academic, writer and critic of the political establishment in the 80's and 90's, and Isaac Dadzie Honny, the first Ghanaian accountant of Ghana Railways also hail from the town. Prof F.K. A. Allotey, Renowned Physicist.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "World Gazetteer online". World-gazetteer.com.
  2. ↑ "Saltpond Field". Ghana National Petroleum Company (GNPC). Retrieved 2010-06-29.
  3. ↑ Climate Summary for Saltpond
  4. ↑ "Saltpond Weather Averages". Myweather2. 2013. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  5. ↑ "President Kufuor and nation mourn Prof Dickson". Retrieved 2010-06-29.

Links and resources