User:Martinholz/Ghana West Coast

Very short introductive paragraph describing the geographical characteristics of the West Coast and the main attractions you can find.

Villages and beaches
Ghana West Coast is made up of various communities with a rich variety in terms of culture, natural and historical attractions. You can reach all the communities easily with public transportation (taxi or Tro-tro) or with your own car.

•	Akwidaa: the Ezile River separates Old and New Akwidaa Town. The old Town is a peninsula surrounded by the sea and the Ezile Lagoon. A wood bridge over the estuary makes it possible to cross from one town to the other and gives a nice view of small harbour. Akwidaa has a long sandy beach suitable for sunbathing and other sport activities.

•	Axim: It is the capital of Nzema East District. This town has a variety of recreational areas and places to visit, the old Fort Sant Antonio dominates de coastal line together with Boboewusi Island, where it is possible to visit the light house. Axim has also ancient colonial buildings, as Paa Grant´s house. Axim.

•	Busua: one of the most touristic communities in the area. This village has a long tradition on tourism and currently hosts more than 7 accommodation facilities that go from local owned home stays to a 60 rooms beach resort. Busua has a long sandy beach were activities such as surfing, jet skiing and other beach sports are possible. From Busua you have a nice view of Abokwa Island, that could also be visited. Sea food such as lobster and fresh fish are typical products in this village.

•	Butre: situated 3 km east from Busua, this small village is dominated by the Fort Batenstein, an ancient fort situated at the top of a hill. Butre has multiple attractions such as the Lagoon, the Beach and the Fort. The long beach is  a destination point of three kinds of sea turtles that from October to March come to lay their eggs.

•	Cape Three Points: situated in the southernmost part of Ghana. It is situated in a privileged area, with beautiful views of the coastline and surrounded by a coastal rainforest. One of the main attractions of this village is the solar powered light house, built in 1925. Whales can be seen from this point during the season. Recently the name of Cape Three Points has been related to the recent oil findings in Ghana. The Jubilee Field is situated 70 km offshore and is not visible from the coast.

•	Dixcove: is a typical fishing village. Dozens of boats with their colourful flags give a particular character to this community. It is situated 30 minutes walking from Busua westward. There is a daily fish market (except Tuesdays). Fort Metal Cross is the other distinctive symbol from this village, this Fort was built by the British in 1692.

•	Princess Town: situated on the road to Axim, has one of the more difficult acceses due to the untarred road. Perhaps due to this isolation has kept an unspoilt landscape. Princess town has a long sandy beach fringed by Coconut trees both sides of the town. At the top of the hill is situated Fort Groot Friedrichsburg.

•	Nkroful: it is the only community without a direct access to the sea, but plays a big role within the area because of its historical relevance. It is the birthplace of the First President of Ghana, Kwame Nkrumah. A memorial and a visitor centre has been put in place allowing visitors to know more about this relevant person in the History of Ghana.

•	Miamia: is a small fishing village and particularly beautyful. It enjoys the safest water to swim and practice other water sports such as diving, snorkeling, kayaking, etc. Nearby you find Egyambra village, with its fascinating crocodile Pond.

•	Nzulezo: also knowns as the “village on stilts”, situated on the Lake Amansuri. The only access to this village is by canoe. Nzulezo belongs to the Amansuri Wetland Area. This exceptional architecture attracts lots of visitors every year. A registration at the visitor centre is compulsory before visiting the village. From Nzulezo you can continue paddling to the Meandah Trial, a short walk way. It will immerse you in the beauty of nature, a tourist rest post has been establish there for enjoyment.

Attractions
Historical Sites, natural places, cultural manifestations and sport activities are some of the attractions of Ghana West Coast.

Historical sites
Ghana West Coast is dotted with several Forts and Castles, which tell about the european presence in this area. Portuguese, british, dutch, german, swedish and danish people came to this area to establish trade settlements that later on would be converted into something more dramatic, centres of slave trading. They are now the reminder of one of the most cruel periods in human History. Most of these ancient buildings date back to the 15th Century and were the scene of multiple battles that lead to the change of ownership in numerous occasions. Some of them have been recently restored while others remain as ruins.
 * Fort Eliza Carthago (Ankobra), it was built by the Dutch in 1702, situated on the top of a hill accesible form Ankobra Beach Resort, today only traces of ruins are now visible.
 * Fort San Antonio (Axim), it was build by the Portuguese as a trading post in 1502. It was destroyed by the townspeople in 1514. Second fort built by the Portuguese on present site in 1515. In 1642 was taken by the Dutch and in 1664 by the English. The Dutch recaptured it just one year later, in 1665. Ceded to Britain in 1872. The Fort was restored in 1951-56 and it is well preserved. Guided tours are available.
 * Fort Appolonia (Beyin), initiated by the Dutch as logge, it was first and English trading post in 1691, the fort was built between 1750 and 1770. Abandoned in 1820 but re-occupied by Governor Maclean's expeditionary force in 1836. In 1868 was transferred to Dutch in 1868, who kept it  until 1872 and then transferred it to the English in 1872.It was bombarded by the British in 1873. After the fort was abandoned, it fell into ruins. The first reconstruction took place, between 1962 and 1968, an Italian NGO called COSPE in collaboration with Ghana Museums and Monuments Board have worked together on its renovation and in October 2010 they officially inaugurated a Museum for the Nzema Culture and History.
 * Groot-Friedrichsburg(Princess Town), the history of the buildting starts wit the Danish in 1658, it was built as a fort  in 1682.In 1716 was abandoned and  occupied by local chief, John Conny, in 1717, who remained in occupation until 1725 when it was captured by the Dutch. It remained as a Dutch possesion until 1872 when it was ceded to Britain. It is well preserved and visitors can even stay overnight.
 * Fort Dorothea (Akwidaa), situated in a small peninsula in Awidaa Old Town, currently it is just ruins. The Fort was part of the possesions of the Brandenburg in this part of Ghana. Formerly part of the Brandenburger Gold Coast it was Dutch in two occasions, first between 1687-90 and second in 17212.
 * Fort Metal Cross (Dixcove), the contruction works commenced in 1683, but its progress was impaired by continuous disputes between the English and the Brandenburgers. Finally, the Building was completed by the English betwenn 1691-97. In 1in 1826 was abandoned and re-occupied in 1830. In 1868 it was transferred to the Dutch who renamed it and gave it the currente name "Metalen Kruis". In 1872 was ceded to the british. Restauraton works were carried out in the fifties last century. It is well preserved and guided visits are availabe.
 * Fort Batestein (Butre), situated over a hill this Fort offers a great view of the community, the sea and the Butre Lagoon. It was built as Swedish post in 1650-52. in 1656 the Dutch built the fort in 1656. It was taken by the English, in 1665 and abandoned in 1818-27. In 1828 the Dutch took possession over it again and remained a Dutch possession until 1872, when it was transferred to the British.

Apart from the Forts there are other building with significant importance to the History of Ghana. Two of the most influent personalities in the 20th were born in this region.

Kwame Nkrumah, First President of independent Ghana, and named a few years ago Africa´s Man of the Millenium due to his fight against colonialism and his ideas about pan-africanism. Dr. Kwame Nkrumah was born in a small village called Nkroful, located in Jomoro District. The house of his childhood host nowadays his Memorial, a place visited every year for ghanaians and non-ghanaians.

Natural places and wildlife
Listing and brief description of: forest reserves (Ankasa National Park, Cape 3 Points reserve), Lagoons, fauna (turtles, whales, birds, etc.), flora (mangroves, rubber plantations, etc.) Cape Three Points Forest Reserve, ocuppies about 5,112 ha and is the last remaining coastal forest reserve in West Africa. Since 1999 the forest has been recognized as a Global Significant Biodiversity Area (GSBA), due to the diversity of its flora, being the second most diverse reserve in Ghana and an Important Bird Area (IBA), more than 160 species are know in the area. The forest is the home of a small population of large mammals such as species of duikers, porcupines, bongo antelope and several species of monkeys like the endangered Diana monkey and the Colobus.
 *  Ankasa Conservation Area, this area is the most biodiverse rainforest in Ghana. It covers more than 500 km2 where more than 800 plant species can be founded.

Culture
List and brief description of: kundum festival, cultural ceremonies, chieftaincy, gastronomy, etc.

Sport activities
Explain the possibilities to practice: surfing, biking, hiking, fishing, etc.

Sustainable tourism
Explain in which way the West Cast tries to adopt a sustainable approach. Explain the concept of PPT and mention the already implemented projects.

Useful information
How you can reach the WC?, Which infrastructures are available?, etc.