The Republic of Ghana is a former British colony located on the south side of West Africa between the Ivory Coast (Côte d'Ivoire) on the west and Togo on the east. In 1957 it became the first country in sub-Saharan Africa to be granted its independence. Its coastline, formerly called the Gold Coast, extends for about 540 km (335 mi) on the Gulf of Guinea. The principal ports, Tema and Takoradi, are close to the cities of Accra and Sekondi, respectively. European nations were active in the country beginning as early as the 15th century. At various times Portugal, the Nerherlands, Sweden, Denmark, and Germany had outposts in the area. Britain had effcetive control by 1821, when the British Gold Coast colony was established. Following World War I a strip of territory on the east side of the country was annexed from the former German colony of Togoland. Ghana is divided into sixteen administrative regions. English is the official language. Aids to navigation in Ghana are maintained by the Ghana Maritime Authority. Compared to other West African nations Ghana has done a good job of maintaining its historic lighthouses. ARLHS numbers are from the ARLHS World List of Lights. Admiralty numbers are from volume D of the Admiralty List of Lights & Fog Signals. U.S. NGA List numbers are from Publication 113.
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![]() Cape St. Paul Light, Woe, November 2021 Google Maps photo by Macabe5387 |
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![]() Takoradi Light, Takoradi, June 2009 photo copyright Michael Schubert; used by permission |
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Information available on lost lighthouses:
Notable faux lighthouses:
Adjoining pages: East: Togo | West: Côte d'Ivoire
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Posted September 11, 2005. Checked and revised May 10, 2025. Lighthouses: 18. Site copyright 2025 Russ Rowlett and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.