Takoradi

Takoradi is the capital of the Western Region, and the fourth largest city in Ghana. It is often referred to as Sekondi-Takoradi, due to it's sister city, Sekondi, which is just 5km to the east of Takoradi. The city's port was formerly Ghana's main harbour, from 1920 until the 1950s, prior to the development of Tema in the Greater Accra Region, during the 1960s.

 The central business district of Takoradi, taken from the south-east end of town, looking along Independence Avenue towards Market Circle. The building to the far right is the Takoradi branch of Ghana Commercial Bank (January 2009)

Takoradi is approximately 295km from Accra by road, and is usually reached by private vehicle in around three hours. Geographically, Takoradi is closer to Kumasi, however, there are no direct roads, so travelers to Kumasi are required to go via either Tarkwa or Cape Coast, and is again around three hours drive away. Takoradi is also reached by rail & air from either city.

While Sekondi is an older city, and distinctly colonial in it's appearance, Takoradi is considered the more modern business centre between the two. It is dominated by a large market in the centre of the town, surrounded by a large circle, which travels only in one direction. The combined population of the twin cities  is in the vicinity of 330,000, and Sekondi-Takoradi is considered one of the fastest growing of Ghana's regional capitals.

Feeder roads route vehicles from the market square in all directions from what is considered the central business district. Located approximately 2km to the north of the market, the Kwame Nkrumah circle routes vehicles either to the Cape Coast/Accra road (to the east), or to the Axim/Tarkwa road (to the west). In both directions, the large residential sprawl of Takoradi is evident as the town limits are reached.

 The Western Region capital, Takoradi, looking north-east along Independence Avenue from the Market Circle (January 2009)

South of central business district is the beach district, and it is in this green and leafy area where most of Takoradi's best hotels & restaurants are found. Virtually all of Ghana's banks are represented in the central business districts & surrounds.

Takoradi is considered the best base from which to explore the Western Region. Major tourist locations in the Western Region, such as the old colonial town of Dixcove & the historic Fort Metal Cross, or Ghana's best-known surfing beach at Busua, are approximately 30-40km to the west, while Sekondi boasts Fort Orange, which was built by the Dutch in the 18th Century, and offers a beautiful view of Sekondi's harbour. An influx of visitors to the twin city was also seen during the 2008 African Cup Of Nations, when Takoradi's hotels housed visitors and teams trekked to nearby Essipong Stadium on the outskirts of Sekondi during the tournament.