Koforidua
Encyclopedia
Koforidua, also popularly known as Kof-town, is a city in the West Africa
n republic of Ghana
, about an hour by road from Accra
. It is the capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana and has a population of 87,315 (2000 census).
It serves as a commercial center for the region and New-Juaben Municipal District
.
, carpentry and joinery, traditional medicine, pottery and ceramics.
Favourable weather conditions, as well as suitable soil types constitute a recipe for the production of food and cash crops. Agricultural crops include cassava
, kola
, maize
, plantain, cocoyam
, citrus
, palm oil
, kennel
oil, tomato
es, onion
s, black pepper
, mushrooms and spices. Koforidua is also noted today for its weekly Thursday bead market that draws bead buyers and sellers from all over the region.
The 'Akwantukese' (The Big Journey Festival) is celebrated yearly to mark the movement of their ancestors from 'Ashanti' to their present location. Presently the city still has a high population of 'Ashantis' and a healthy mixture of other Ghanaian tribes.
On July 6, 1992, the city was named the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua.
The municipality shares boundaries with East-Akim Municipality to the northeast, Akwapim North District to the east and south and Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District to the west. Koforidua City (New Jabeng) is made up of several towns and neighborhoods, including Effiduase, Asokore, Oyoko, Suhyen, Dansuagya, Betom, Srodae, etc.
A predominant natural feature in Koforidua is the 'Obuo Tabri' Mountain, which is considered sacred. Nearby is Akosombo Dam
which holds Lake Volta
, the world's largest man-made lake. Waterfalls in the area such as Akaa Falls and Boti Falls and the Umbrella Rock attract tourists to the region.
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n republic of Ghana
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
, about an hour by road from Accra
Accra
Accra is the capital and largest city of Ghana, with an urban population of 1,658,937 according to the 2000 census. Accra is also the capital of the Greater Accra Region and of the Accra Metropolitan District, with which it is coterminous...
. It is the capital of the Eastern Region of Ghana and has a population of 87,315 (2000 census).
It serves as a commercial center for the region and New-Juaben Municipal District
New-Juaben Municipal District
The New-Juaben Municipal District is a district of Ghana in the Eastern Region. The capital lies at Koforidua.- Geography :The New Juaben Municipality falls within the Eastern Region of Ghana. The municipality covers an estimated area of 110 square kilometers constituting 0.57 % of the total land...
.
History
Koforidua was founded in 1875 by refugees from Ashanti. It was served by a station on the Ghana Railway network. Koforidua is one of the country’s oldest cocoa-producing centres. With the completion in 1923 of the Accra-Kumasi railway, it became an important road and rail junction. As cocoa production has moved westward to areas of virgin soil, Koforidua has become increasingly dependent upon its commercial and administrative functions. The town has only small-medium scale industries today.Industrial activities include the production of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, textiles, crafts, soapSoap
In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.IUPAC. "" Compendium of Chemical Terminology, 2nd ed. . Compiled by A. D. McNaught and A. Wilkinson. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford . XML on-line corrected version: created by M. Nic, J. Jirat, B. Kosata; updates compiled by A. Jenkins. ISBN...
, carpentry and joinery, traditional medicine, pottery and ceramics.
Favourable weather conditions, as well as suitable soil types constitute a recipe for the production of food and cash crops. Agricultural crops include cassava
Cassava
Cassava , also called yuca or manioc, a woody shrub of the Euphorbiaceae native to South America, is extensively cultivated as an annual crop in tropical and subtropical regions for its edible starchy tuberous root, a major source of carbohydrates...
, kola
Kola
Kola can refer to:*Kola nut, a genus of about 125 species of trees**Inca Kola, a cola soft drink made in Peru**Kola Real, a Peruvian soft drink**Kola Inglesa , a Peruvian soft drink...
, maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, plantain, cocoyam
Cocoyam
Cocoyam can mean:* Taro - old cocoyam* Malanga - new cocoyam...
, citrus
Citrus
Citrus is a common term and genus of flowering plants in the rue family, Rutaceae. Citrus is believed to have originated in the part of Southeast Asia bordered by Northeastern India, Myanmar and the Yunnan province of China...
, palm oil
Palm oil
Palm oil, coconut oil and palm kernel oil are edible plant oils derived from the fruits of palm trees. Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit of the oil palm Elaeis guineensis; palm kernel oil is derived from the kernel of the oil palm and coconut oil is derived from the kernel of the...
, kennel
Kennel
A kennel is the name given to any structure or shelter for dogs. A kennel is a doghouse, run, or other small structure in which a dog is kept...
oil, tomato
Tomato
The word "tomato" may refer to the plant or the edible, typically red, fruit which it bears. Originating in South America, the tomato was spread around the world following the Spanish colonization of the Americas, and its many varieties are now widely grown, often in greenhouses in cooler...
es, onion
Onion
The onion , also known as the bulb onion, common onion and garden onion, is the most widely cultivated species of the genus Allium. The genus Allium also contains a number of other species variously referred to as onions and cultivated for food, such as the Japanese bunching onion The onion...
s, black pepper
Black pepper
Black pepper is a flowering vine in the family Piperaceae, cultivated for its fruit, which is usually dried and used as a spice and seasoning. The fruit, known as a peppercorn when dried, is approximately in diameter, dark red when fully mature, and, like all drupes, contains a single seed...
, mushrooms and spices. Koforidua is also noted today for its weekly Thursday bead market that draws bead buyers and sellers from all over the region.
The 'Akwantukese' (The Big Journey Festival) is celebrated yearly to mark the movement of their ancestors from 'Ashanti' to their present location. Presently the city still has a high population of 'Ashantis' and a healthy mixture of other Ghanaian tribes.
On July 6, 1992, the city was named the seat of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Koforidua.
Geography
The New Juaben Municipality falls within the Eastern Region of Ghana. The municipality covers an estimated area of 110 square kilometers constituting 0.57 % of the total land area of the Eastern Region. The municipality has 48 electoral areas. It has an annual rainfall ranging from 50 – 120 inches and 20 – 32 celsius mean annual temperatures.The municipality shares boundaries with East-Akim Municipality to the northeast, Akwapim North District to the east and south and Suhum Kraboa Coaltar District to the west. Koforidua City (New Jabeng) is made up of several towns and neighborhoods, including Effiduase, Asokore, Oyoko, Suhyen, Dansuagya, Betom, Srodae, etc.
A predominant natural feature in Koforidua is the 'Obuo Tabri' Mountain, which is considered sacred. Nearby is Akosombo Dam
Akosombo Dam
The Akosombo Dam , is a hydroelectric dam on the Volta River in southeastern Ghana in the Akosombo gorge and part of the Volta River Authority. The construction of the dam flooded part of the Volta River Basin, and the subsequent creation of Lake Volta...
which holds Lake Volta
Lake Volta
Lake Volta is the largest reservoir by surface area in the world, and the fourth largest one by water volume. It is located completely within the country of Ghana, and it has a surface area of about 8,502 km² . Lake Volta lies along the Greenwich Meridian, and just six degrees of latitude...
, the world's largest man-made lake. Waterfalls in the area such as Akaa Falls and Boti Falls and the Umbrella Rock attract tourists to the region.