Anyako

Anyako
The Mission Station Anyako (Volta Region, Ghana)
Nickname:  Little London
Anyako Location in Ghana
Coordinates: 05°59′38.26″N 0°55′3.81″E
Country	Ghana
Region	Volta Region

Anyako is a town in the Volta Region of Ghana.[1][2] It is bordered at the south by the Keta Lagoon. The inhabitants of the town mainly belong to the Ewe tribe.[3] Tracing its establishment to a settlement founded by the Anlos during the migration from Notsie in present-day Togo. The town is the birthplace of Ghanaian-American artist El Anatsui. The town has had little to no growth over the past thirty years due to sea erosion which affected commercial activities.[4]

Suburbs

Aerial view of Anyako

• Konu
• Atigate
• Aborme
• Woeto
• Lashibi
• Aƒegame
• Kpota

Contribution to Ghanaian politics

Anyako produced many political figures in Ghana's history. The 1st Inspector General of Police of Ghana John Willie Kofi Harlley who was also a former foreign minister of Ghana; and a member of the Presidential Commission that ruled Ghana during the military era of the National Liberation Council came from Anyako.^[citation needed]

Culture

Some popular foods eaten by the locals include Akple, Yakayake, Abolo and Gbɔvilolo kalami, Agbeli kaklo kple azi, and Ayikple.[1]

Education

School bell tower

Anyako has a senior high school and three basic and junior high schools. The second cycle institutions is known as Anyako Secondary School, which is a formerly known as Anlo Awoamefia School. The basic and junior schools are E.P. Basic School, A.A. Fia/L.A. Basic and Junior Schools, and R.C. Basic and Junior Schools.^[citation needed]

Notable people

• John Willie Kofi Harlley was Ghana's first Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service (IGP).[5] He was the deputy chairman of the NLC government and also served in multiple ministerial roles including serving as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for the Interior.[6]
• El Anatsui is a contemporary artist. He has lived in Nigeria since 1975. He was awarded the Golden Lion for Life Achievement at the Venice Biennale (2015)[7] and has received honorary degrees from Harvard University, University of Cape Town, and Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Accra.[6]
• Komla Agbeli Gbedemah was a Ghanaian politician and Minister for Finance in Ghana's Nkrumah government between 1954 and 1961.[6]
• Alex Segbefia - Deputy Chief of Staff and Minister of Health during Atta Mills and John Mahama's government respectively.
• Isaac Dogboe - Former World Boxing Organization super bantamweight champion.[6][8]
• Corporal Patrick Gagbale Attipoe- He was a Ghanaian ex-serviceman and veteran of World War II. He was one of the three veterans shot dead by Major Imray. while on their way to present a petition to Sir Gerald Creasy who was Governor of Gold Coast at the time. The death of these three ex-servicemen led to the 1948 Accra Riots.[6][9] In his loving memory, his statue has been unveiled at Kpota.[10][11]

References

1. "Members from hometown Anyako in Volta Region". mobile.ghanaweb.com. Archived from the original on 2017-11-13. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
2. "Couple arrested for murder at Anyako". GhHeadlines Total News Total Information. Retrieved 2017-11-13.
3. "Anyako citizens urged to unite for development".
4. "Volta". Ghana.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 2015-09-11. Retrieved 2018-04-19.
5. Mamattah, Charles M. K. (1976). The EVes of West Africa: The ANlO-EVes and their immediate neighbours. Volta Research Publications.
6. "Anyako: Largest Island On The Keta Lagoon". GhanaWeb. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
7. "Venice Biennale Awards Golden Lions to el Anatsui, Susanne Ghez, Names Jury". 23 April 2015.
8. "Navarrete-Dogboe II on May 11(Redemption Day): Repeat Or Revenge?". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 2020-01-28.
9. "Corporal Patrick Attipoe | DIED THIS MONTH IN HISTORY - @ MyTribute.Life". mytribute.life. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
10. francis (2018-04-16). "Corporal Attipoe's statue unveiled at Kpota, Anyako". Ghana Business News. Retrieved 2020-02-07.
11. Agency, Ghana News. "Kpota, Anyako: Cpl Attipoe's Statue Finally Unveiled". Retrieved 2020-02-07.