SEKONDI: HISTORY AND MONUMENTS
INTRODUCTION
In Ghana (then, Gold Coast) various cities emerged throughout the pre-colonial period and during the encounter with the Europeans. Townships like Elmina emerged around late 12th century, likewise Sekondi which was also believed to have existed as early as the 13th Century (Lawler, 2002). Sekondi became popularly known for its Dutch Fort, Fort Orange built in 1642 and an English Fort built in 1682. Sekondi is part of the and administrative capital of Western Region of Ghana – known as Sekondi-Takoradi (Twin-City). The city is strategically located, due to availability of transportation facilities such as the sea, railway and efficient road networks linking to major cities in Ghana and La Cote d’Ivoire. It is blessed with a Fishing Harbour and landing beaches, Regional Administration and some historic monuments. Since every city, town or village has a history, so does Sekondi.
FESTIVALS
The Kundum Festival is one festival that many people will love to witness in the Seckondi- Takoradi Metropolis. The celebration of the festival starts from July to August annually. The festival relates to the celebration of bumper harvest of Corn (food) and serves as an occasion for the communities and indigenes to strengthen their mutual bond for development. The Kundum Festival originated from Ahanta Aboadze, near Agona Ahanta and is mainly celebrated by the AHANTAS and NZEMAS. The origin of the name is derived from the name of a god called ‘Kofi Kundum’. This god is believed to have been the ancestral god of harvest. It is said that one Brempon Yaw later gave prominence and recognition to the festival. He introduced another fetish called ‘Asafua; who, was acknowledged to have first tasted the produce from the annual harvest before any food could be distributed for consumption and even be taken to the market. Other minor festivals are held before the celebration of the main festival. The unique features of the Kundum Festival are the “Abesa Dance” (Kundum Dance) and “Asafo Company” performances.
ORAL HISTORY OF SEKONDI
According to oral history, the founders of Secondi originally came from Techiman. They were led by a woman named Ewue Luku. They first settled at Esipon where they cultivated pepper and others engaged in animal hunting. The land was found not to be favourable (fertile) for pepper cultivation, so they migrated to Akuberem (where the present-day Naval Quarters is in Secondi). From Akuberem the people moved to Anafo, where the present ‘Ahenfie’ (State Palace) is. It is said that their pepper plantation flourished and their neighbours from nearby communities patronized the pepper produced by Ewue Luku and her people. People from neighbouring Ahanta communities found the pepper produced by Ewue Luku and her people to be very hot, so they inturn directed people from other communities to also patronize the product. Hot pepper in the Ahanta language is called ‘EZEKUME.’ ‘EZE’ means pepper with ‘KUME’ meaning hot. With time the word (name) EZEKUME got adulterated to ‘SEKUNDE’ due to the difficulty people had in pronouncing ‘EZEKUME.’ Sekunde is now turned to Sekondi.
It is believed that, on one of his hunting expeditions, the husband of Ewue Luku did not return from the hunting trip. Following this development, Ewue Luku mounted a search for her lost husband and later found him dead along the coast. The woman became inconsolable and cried out loudly. It is said that, while crying, a Stool with the “Abradze Family” symbol of a bird in its nest woven in between the horns of the buffalo came out of the sea. Ezue Luku took hold of the Stool, brought it home and sat on it to rule Sekunde and seventeen other communities. Initially, the Sekunde stool swore allegiance to the great Nana Badu Bonsu of Busua, the Ahntahen. In 1872, the Sekunde stool weaned itself from the authority of Nana Badu Bonsu of Busua with the aid of the Dutch. This was after the Dutch had settled in Sekunde and built their fort, Fort Orange in 1640. The seat of Sekunde ruled over Poɔase, Nkotompo, Esaman, Ekuase, Esipon, Sofokrom, Manpong, Nkroful, Fijai, Diabene, Kansaworado, Anaji, Efirikrom, Butuma-gyebu, Efia, Ahenkofikrom and Ketan. Sekundi adopted and celebrated the Kundum Festival since it held allegiance to the Ahantahen of Busua.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION ON SOME MONUMENTS OF SEKONDI
Sekondi-Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly (City Council)
S.T.M.A. is the third largest Metroplis in Ghana after Accra and Kumasi. It is located on the south-western of Ghana, about 242km west of Accra, the capital city of Ghana. It is also approximately 280 kilometres from the La Cote d’voire border on the west (Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly, 2020).
The Assembly was initially known as Sekondi Town Council in 1903 under the Town Council Ordinance No. 26 until 1946 when Takoradi was brought under its administration.
Kundum Square (Komfo Ase)
Kundum Square popularly called ‘Komfo Ase’ was built to symbolize the Kundum Dance of the Ahanta’s (indigenes of the town).
This ground is where the various Dance Groups that partakes in the celebration of the Kundum Festival converge to close proceedings every year in Sekondi.
Independent Circle (Around the fish)
This statue also known as ‘Enam Ase’ is located at Anaafo a suburb of Sekondi. The grounds formerly used to serve as the joint for the mobilization of Railways Workers and other Africans to protest the colonial rule of the British. Thus, the name Independence Circle. The place used to be decorated with a water fountain. During the reign of Major Cobbinah in the 1970’s the water fountain was replaced with the statue of a fish to signify the predominant occupation (fishing) of Sekondi.
Paa Grant House
This building was built by the popular Ghanaian merchant and independent activist, Paa Grant as his residential lodge in Sekondi. The house was the meeting place of the founders of the United Gold Coast Convention (U.G.C.C) and other independent activists like Nana Kobina Nketia III for their independent struggle activities. Paa Grant was the Financier or bankroller of U.G.C.C. He was purported to have been the founder of U.G.C.C.
Fort Orange
It was built by the Dutch in 1640 for the defence of their territory when they first settled at European Town (a suburb of Sekondi). The Dutch, in the course of time sold Fort Orange to the British 1872. The Fort serves as Security Tower for the Ghana Navy as well as Light House that guide ships to the Takoradi harbour. Presently, Fort Orange is being used as Administrative Office by the Museums and Monuments Authority, Western Region.
British Bank of West Africa (European Bank)
British Bank of West Africa was the first Bank built in the whole of West Africa to be used by the Europeans during the British colonial rule. The British sold the building to one Uncle Nana Bayin (deceased) after independence.
The European Town Post Office
This was built at European Town by the Europeans for their mail services to Europe and elsewhere. The building was strategically sited close to the Sekondi Railway Station with the view of making it easier for heavy mails or passels brought in by trains to be conveyed to the Post Office yard and storerooms.
The Railway Station, Sekondi
It was built in 1903 by the then British colonial government for the transportation of goods and people from the old city of Sekondi to the mining territories and other major cities of the country. The Railway Station was surrounded by warehouses and workshops where manufactured goods could be easily transported to and from their intended markets. The original brick and wooden structures built by the European settlers at European Town were pulled down and rebuilt with cement blocks and concrete material among others in 2013.
Old Court House
This structure used to be the High Court of the Gold Coast in Sekondi (located at the Naval Quarters) before it was moved to its present location at Kwakuma.
Wesley Methodist Cathedral
The edifice was built under the leadership of Wesley Methodist Missionaries and served as the Prayer Center for people of the Methodist faith. It is the biggest Cathedral in Sekondi.
St. Andrews Anglican Cathedral
It was originally built by the Anglican Missionaries in 1638. The original structure was pulled down and rebuilt from 1932 to 1935 by Samuel Woode Esq. an architect and builder.
REFERENCE
Lawler, N. (2002). Soldiers, Airmen, Spies, and Whisperers: The Gold Coast in World War II. Ohio, USA: Ohio University Press. Retrieved March 4, 2019 Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly. (2020). Brief on STMA. Retrieved February 24, 2020, from Sekondi Takoradi Metropolitan Assembly.