Winneba

Winneba is a town and the capital of Effutu Municipal District in Central Region of South Ghana. Winneba has a population of 55,331.[1] Winneba, traditionally known as Simpa,[2] is a historic fishing port in south Ghana, lying on the south coast, 140 kilometres (90 mi) east of Cape Coast.[2][3][4] The current member of parliament is Alexander Kwamina Afenyo-Markin.

Winneba
Simpa
Town
North Campus of University of Education, Winneba
Winneba is located 56 km (35 mi) west of Accra and 140 km (90 mi) east of Cape Coast
Winneba
Location of Winneba in Central region, South Ghana
Coordinates: 5°21′00″N 0°37′30″W
CountryGhana
RegionCentral Region
DistrictEffutu Municipal District
Population
 (2013)
 • Total55,331[1]
Time zoneGMT
 • Summer (DST)GMT

History

From pre-colonial times through the establishment of the British colony the Gold Coast, (Effutu) Winneba served as a port town.[5] Fort Winneba was built here.

The people of Winneba(Efutu) were led by their fearless spiritual leader and warrior, Kwamena Gyarteh Ayirebi-Gyan with the support of a large youthful militia called the Asafo Groups made up of both men and women. He ensured that his people were well protected from external attacks by other migrating families, clans, diseases or want of food.[6]

Industry and culture
Winneba during Aboakyer festival

The main industries of Winneba are fishing and services. It is known for the Aboakyer deer-hunting festival in Winneba and its New Year fancy dress carnival/masquerading festival.[7] 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, and the Akoo show Choir. Winneba Senior High School is the only major public secondary cycle educational institute available in this town.

The University of Education, Winneba has its three main campus in Winneba (South Campus, Central Campus, North Campus ).

Festivals
Main article: Fancy Dress Festival

Masquerade festival, popularly known as fancy dress, is held every new year among the people of Winneba. Its attracts a large number of tourists around the world. It is the second most popular festival in Winneba. The festival is held on a football park at the North campus of university of education by the five main masquerade groups. They come together and compete amongs themselves to select the winner for the trophy. These groups consists of Nobles as number one, Egya as number two, Atumu as number three and Red Cross as number four and Royals as number 5.[8]

Main article: Aboakyer festival

Aboakyer festival is a bushbuck hunting festival celebrated by the people of Winneba in the Central Region of Ghana. The name Aboakyer translates as ‘hunting for game or animal’ in Fante dialect as spoken by the people of the Central region. The institution of the festival was to commemorate the migration of the Simpafo( the aboriginal name of the people of Winneba)[9]

Neighborhoods

Winneba has a number of neighborhoods stretching from the coastal areas to non-coastal areas. It also includes rural areas which provide farm power aside the fishing activity employed by the inhabitants of the coasts. Below are some of the well-known neighborhoods of Winneba.

Urban areas
  • Winneba Junction
  • Lowcost
  • Yepemso
  • Nkwantanan
  • Kundum
  • Abasraba
  • Girls-Ase
  • Kojo-Beedu
  • Gyatakrom
  • Winneba Senior High School
  • Central Campus
  • North Campus
  • South Campus
  • Zongo
  • Sankor
  • Water-works

Rural areas
  • Essuekyir
  • Woarabeba
  • Gyaahadze
  • Osubonpanyin
  • Ateitu
  • Atakyedo
  • Gyangyanadze
  • Kookrom

Climate
Climate data for Winneba
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 33.0
(91.4)		 32.3
(90.1)		 31.9
(89.4)		 31.1
(88.0)		 34.4
(93.9)		 29.6
(85.3)		 28.3
(82.9)		 29.0
(84.2)		 29.4
(84.9)		 30.6
(87.1)		 32.5
(90.5)		 42.0
(107.6)		 42.0
(107.6)
Average low °C (°F) 13.3
(55.9)		 13.6
(56.5)		 11.9
(53.4)		 10.8
(51.4)		 14.5
(58.1)		 13.5
(56.3)		 15.5
(59.9)		 14.2
(57.6)		 12.7
(54.9)		 16.8
(62.2)		 15.7
(60.2)		 12.1
(53.8)		 11.9
(53.4)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 15
(0.6)		 7.6
(0.3)		 10
(0.4)		 38
(1.5)		 220
(8.7)		 66
(2.6)		 38
(1.5)		 7.6
(0.3)		 25
(1.0)		 58
(2.3)		 5.1
(0.2)		 23
(0.9)		 520
(20.3)
Source: Meoweather.com[10]

Sister cities

List of sister cities of Winneba, designated by Sister Cities International:

Country City County / District / Region / State Date Ref.
USA Birmingham, AL Alabama November 15, 2009
[11]
USA Charlottesville, VA Virginia August 2, 2010
[12]
USA Lowell, MA Massachusetts
[13]

Personalities

Notable Institutions
  • University of Education, Winneba
  • Winneba Community Nursing training college
  • Winneba secondary school
  • Winneba School of Business
  • Winneba Vocational training Institute

See also

References
  1. "World Gazetteer online". World-gazetteer.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007.
  2. "Central Region". Ghana Embassy in Japan. Retrieved 28 April 2006.
  3. Kwesi Ewusi Brown, "Social Conflicts in Contemporary Effutu Festivals", 2005, Masters Thesis for Bowling Green State University, advisor Steven Cornelius, p. 1
  4. Brown, 2005, pp. 2-3
  5. Brown (2005), p. 1
  6. "Founding of Simpa". effutustate.net. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  7. Brown, 2005, p. 3
  8. "Masquerade Festival at Winneba - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  9. "Aboakyer Festival". www.ghanaweb.com. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
  10. "Winneba Weather Averages". Meoweather. 2013. Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  11. "Ghanam Birmingham". birminghamsistercities.com. n.d.
  12. Tasha Kates (November 15, 2009). "Residents chime in on city clock designs". The Daily Progress.
  13. Under Resolution
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