Keta

Region

Keta ( Ewe: "Sand head"), English also Quitta, is a town in the Volta Region on the coast of Ghana and the capital of the Keta District ( Keta Municipal).

Location and History

Keta located on a narrow, constantly threatened by erosion Spit, which the Keta lagoon separated from the Gulf of Guinea (Atlantic Ocean). Before the arrival of Europeans in the 15th century there was a market town local importance in the Kingdom of Anlo. The development of interest to the people of the Volta Region marketplace, was influenced by European colonial interests from the beginning of the 18th century decisively. To protect their own trading posts, the Dutch built Fort Singelenburgh 1734, at the same place in 1784, the Danes, the Fort Prinzenstein. After taking over in 1850 by Keta England lost its national significance. The shallow sloping seabed prevented the creation of larger vessels, so that all goods and persons had to be transported to and from the ships lying at anchor in the surf.

Through costly coastal protection ( Keta sea defense project) is trying since 2000 to stop the further destruction Ketas by sea erosion.