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Of the populated places in the Eastern region of Ghana, Larteh Akuapem is the capital of the Benkum Division of the Akuapem Traditional Council. It lies on the east of the ridge on the Akonnobepow. [1]
The name Larteh was derived from the GA words "La" which means fire, and "te" which means stone. In English meaning "fire-stone". [2]
The Benkum Division of Akuapem comprises the following towns and their villages; Larteh, Mamfe, Abotakyi, Mampong, Tutu, Obosomase, Mangoase, Tinkong, Okroase, Adweso. The towns of Akuapem are in the Eastern Region of Ghana and situated between longitude 0°15 W - 0°00 and latitude 5°45 - 6°00 N. These towns are located on the Akuapem Ridge, which runs northeastwards across the Volta Region of Ghana and extends further into the Republic of Togo.
Larteh is a twin town consisting of Larteh Kubease and Larteh Ahenease. The language spoken is Gua n which is a stock of the Kwa.
The oral tradition of Larteh Kubease claims that they came from inland and settled west of the mouth of the Volta among the Kpesi, aborigines of Guan extraction. When the Ga Boni met them, the two groups settled temporally on the banks of the Laloi Lagoon at Podoku near Tema. Larteh Kubease were led by Fianko Adeyite. [3] On the hills they first settled at a place called Afianko. The Afianko sojourn seems to have been the briefest, since no living structures were created there. They moved to present Larteh Kubease. [4]
The People of Larteh celebrate Odwira [5] and this ceremony is usually held in September/October. Odwira is one of Ghana's many festivals that see attendance from people from all walks of life including the diaspora. [6]
Like all traditional festivals in Ghana, Odwira of Larteh and Akuapem are a combination of ritual, ceremonial, artistic, and recreational activities which take place in different locations according to defined schedules and forms. The festivals also provide opportunities for the collective renewal of the arts as a form of community experience, or as an expression of group consciousness with a great deal of stress laid on music and dancing in many of the festival events. [7]
For many decades, the Odwira Festival has been a staple of Ghana's colourful, vibrant and diverse cultural expression, bringing together people from all walks of life to celebrate themes of victory, gratitude and harvest, in unity. However, even before Odwira became a part of Ghana's cultural landscape it had long been celebrated by the people of Akropong, Amanokrom and Aburi in the Eastern Region.
Larteh is the birthplace of, or home to, several notable people, including:
Ghana is a multilingual country in which about eighty languages are spoken. Of these, English, which was inherited from the colonial era, is the official language and lingua franca. Of the languages indigenous to Ghana, Akan is the most widely spoken in the south. Dagbani, Dagare, Sisaala, Waale, and Gonja are among the most widely spoken in the northern part of the country.
Akwamu was a state set up by the Akwamu people in present-day Ghana. After migrating from Bono state, the Akan founders of Akwamu settled in Twifo-Heman. The Akwamu led an expansionist empire in the 17th and 18th centuries. At the peak of their empire, Akwamu extended 400 kilometres (250 mi) along the coast from Ouidah, Benin in the East to Winneba, Ghana, in the West.
Akropong is a town in South Ghana and is the capital of the Akuapim North District, a district in the Eastern Region of South Ghana. This town is known for producing snails and palm oil. Akropong has a 2013 settlement population of 13,785 people.
The Akuapem, is one of the few confederacies in Ghana.It consist of people of Guan and Akan decent.They reside mostly to the south of the Eastern Region of Ghana. They are indigenous, consisting of both patriarchal Volta-Comoe-speaking Guans and matriarchal Kwa-speaking Akans.
The Guan or Guang people are an ethnic group found almost in all parts of Ghana, including the Akyode people who speak Gikyode,Krachi people, language-Kaakye people Nkonya tribe, the Gonja, Anum, Larteh, Akposo, Etsii in the Central Region, Nawuri, Nyagbo and Ntsumburu. The Guan are believed to have been the first settlers in modern day southern Ghana, migrating from the Mossi-Dagbon region of modern Ghana and Burkina around 1000 A.D. The Gonja of the Guan are however late settlers in northern Ghana, invading eastern Dagbon in the 1600s, capturing Daboya and many towns.
Adukrom is a town in the Okere District Assembly in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares borders with Awukugua Akuapem where Okomfo anokye was born The town is known for the Nifahene Stool of Akuapem and the capital of Okere District and situated on the Togo Atakora hills on the main Ho-Koforidua main trunk road in the northern part of Akuapem.
Obo Kwahu is a town in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It is believed that the people of Obo first made settlement at Oboobo which is near Kwahu Bepong today. They moved from "Oboobo" to a near site which was named "Obo" from "Oboobo". The present Obo Kwahu is now the most beautiful in the whole Kwahu District and that is why the building at the outskirts are all attractive-looking.
The Odwira festival is celebrated by the chiefs and peoples of Fanteakwa District and Akuapem in the Eastern Region of Ghana. The Odwira Festival is celebrated by the people of Akropong-Akuapim, Aburi, Larteh, and Mamfe. This is celebrated annually in the month of September and October. The festival celebrates a historic victory over the Ashanti]s in 1826. This was the battle of Katamansu near Dodowa. It was first celebrated in October 1826.
Akuapim-Mampong is a town in the Akuapim North district of the Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares boundaries with Mamfe. It is famous for being the first place cocoa was planted in Ghana by Tetteh Quarshie.
Berekuso is a town in the Eastern Region of Ghana, approximately an hour from Accra. It is located in the foothills of the Aburi Ridge, on a road linking the Accra suburb of Kwabenya with the hills around Aburi. The town is known for being the location of Ashesi University, the first liberal arts college in sub-Saharan Africa.
Amanokrom is a town in the Akuapim North District of the Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares border with Mamfe and Abotakyi
Abiriw is a town in the Okere District Assembly in the Eastern Region of Ghana.It shares border with Akropong and Dawu.
Dawu is a town in the Okere District Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares border with Abiriw and Awukugua
Awukugua is a town in the Okere District Assembly in the Eastern Region of Ghana. It shares border with Abiriw and Dawu.'
Mamfe is a town in the Akuapim North Municipal District of the Eastern Region of south Ghana. It shares borders with Amanokrom and Akropong.
Kitase is a town in the Akuapim South Municipal District of the Eastern Region of south Ghana. It shares borders with Peduase which is one of the entry points from Accra to Akuapem.
Ahwerase is a town in the Akuapim South Municipal District of the Eastern Region of south Ghana. It shares borders with Aburi which is famous for the Aburi Botanical Gardens and the Odwira festival. The name 'Ahwerase' is an Akan language which translates to 'Under the sugarcane"
Benkum Senior High School, is a Presbyterian category B co-educational first-cycle institution in Larteh Akuapem in the Eastern Region of Ghana.