Please click on the link below to see where Keta is, zoom in to see it more closely and zoom out to see where it sits in relation to Ghana and the rest of West Africa. 

Introduction

Keta is a coastal town in Ghana, West Africa. Part of the Volta estuary region which stretches from the coast deep into country’s interior along the path of the Volta River, the town comprises several small islands and a complex of lagoons. The majority of Keta’s residents are Ewe, a tribe which dominates much of the Volta region and the neighbouring Republic of Togo.

Though a poor community which has suffered greatly from the impact of coastal erosion (during the 20th century more than half of what had been the area of the town – once a successful port – was washed away), the town and its surrounding area retain a charm and a strong sense of identity. The Keta Sea Defence Project was commissioned in 1999 (and completed in 2006) in an effort to stop the encroachment of the sea into the town and it is hoped that this will be a catalyst for the area to regenerate.

We hope that the growth of the Sandlanders will provide a further impetus for development. We take our name from the sandspit on which the town is built and we intend to promote and develop the town alongside the club. 10% of all funds raised by the club will go straight to projects operating in the area – focussing primarily on education and health care – and through the team we aim to put some life back into this once thriving community.

History

Before the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century, the area was part of the African kingdom of Anlo.* The settlement was used by the Europeans as a port for trade in slaves, ivory, spices and gold. Originally colonised by the Danish, a fort was built on the site in 1784 (pictured below), and in 1850, when Ghana became a British colony, the Danes sold the fort to the British. Until the abolition of the slave trade the fort was one of many along Ghana’s coast used to hold slaves until they could be shipped out of Africa, eventually destined for the Americas.**

Under British occupation, Keta served as an open roadstead port (until Tema Harbour began operations to the west in 1962 – 5 years before this Ghana had gained its independence from Britain). Over the last century its double waterfront, once an asset to the main occupation of fishing, eroded rapidly.

Hogbetsotso Festival

On the first Saturday of every November, a grand durbar of chiefs and people is held at Anloga, the traditional home of the Anlo-speaking Ewes.

The durbar forms a significant part of the week-long Hogbetsotso festival which commemorates the migration (or exodus) of the Anlo-Ewes from the ancient walled city of Notsie in present day Northern Togo, to their present abode in the South Eastern Coastal Wetlands of present day Ghana.

They claimed that they escaped the tyranny of a wicked chief, Agorkoli, by walking “backwards” to elude their enemies who might follow them, amidst drumming and dancing to “Husago” and other war songs.

Young Anlo-Ewe women re-enacting an ancestral performance of Husago at the Hogbetsotso festival at Anloga, a suburb of Keta.

Keta Sometutuza Festival

Two weeks after the Anlo-Ewes celebrate Hogbetsotso festival, their cousins, the Some-Ewes celebrate their Keta-Sometutuza at Agbozume, their traditional home.

This colourful festival of pomp and pageantry is rounded off with a grand durbar of chiefs and their subjects on a Saturday. Chiefs pay homage to their paramount chief and renew their alleigance (the Some area is noted for Kente weaving).

Keta Today

As indicated above the town has been greatly affected by coastal erosion which has consumed a large part of Keta town and forced residents from their homes. The old town centre which was dominated by its market and busy central streets has been largely abandoned. Keta once had a sports arena – London Park – but this too has fallen to ruin. In the last 50 years in particular the town has moved backwards, evidence of its former status can be seen in the beautiful, crumbling buildings which line the streets (as in the picture below left).

In what is a provincial town the majority of the population make their living from the land and the sea – corn and onions are farmed and fishing is without doubt still the biggest active industry in the area. Official statistics show that the majority of residents (61%) earn just £1 a day or less and just 7% earn in excess of £2 a day. Please see our Keta Projects programme for more details on specific problems and areas of need in the area which we hope to address.

Despite its regression Keta is a charming town with huge potential, the Sandlanders aim to highlight this potential and offer Keta the chance to repair itself.

Local industry

Local industry is dominated by fisheries and farming (please see the picture below of local fisherman below pulling in one of their boats). The Ewe are known as a tribe of fisherman, living off the banks of the Volta River. Local farming produce include onions, corn, maize and cassava. The area is also home to numerous artists and craftsmen, as the project develops we hope to give our members the opportunity to purchase their products via the website.

Potential for tourism

Keta is an area with huge potential for tourism. Sitting on the coast, the town has clean sand and a clear sea. The area is abundant with bird, fish and butterfly species.
Each street in the old town centre is flanked by crumbling colonial-era buildings (as shown in the pictures below). These buildings indicate perfectly how the area has been left at the mercy of the elements, now that the incursion of the sea has been curbed it is hoped that these sites can be re-claimed and re-developed.

The areas main tourist attractions include:

• The coconut beaches and bird watching rites at Anyawi. Please see our Keta Projects for details of our support of local tourist developments.

• The Hogbetsotso Festival. For the duration of the first week of November each year Keta celebrates the Hogbetsotso Festival – a colourful and spectacular exhibition of music, costume and dancing. The festival marks the escape of the people of Anlo (Keta’s founding father’s) from their oppression in Benin and reflects the strong sense of history in the town and the rich culture of local tribal life.

• The remains of Fort Prinzenstein, the slave den, built by the Danes as a transit point for slaves in 1784. The fort is a poignant reminder of a distressing period of local history.

• The shrines of the people of Anlo.

• The boisterous fishing activities of the sea and lagoon fishermen of the area.

• Ghana’s people: friendly, welcoming and a joy to spend time with! Ghana has been described as a safe and beguiling introduction to West Africa and Keta is typical of the charm of the country.

Visitors to Keta also have easy access to the rest of the Volta region. The region stretches from sun-dappled coastal beaches through rainforests, waterfalls and monkey sanctuary’s in the central belt where Mt Afadjato at 885m is the highest point in Ghana, to the arid savannah of northern Ghana. Keta is around 2 ½ hours drive from Accra (Ghana’s capital) which is itself just 6 hours flight time from London and other European cities.

Notes:

*From as early as 300AD until the Middle Ages, West Africa supported a number of sophisticated ancient Kingdoms – including Ghana (geographically further north than modern day Ghana), Mali and Ashanti. These Kingdoms thrived on the trade in gold and salt, gold moved north and salt south. The ancient city of Timbuktu grew as a point of exchange on the edge of the Sahara desert for trade moving north and south.

**Slaves would be taken from the African interior and marched to the coast to be held in horrific conditions until they were ready to be shipped, only the strongest would make it this far as many weaker slaves perished.