Aflao is a border town in the Ketu South District in the Volta Region of Ghana on the border with Togo. Aflao is the twenty-eighth most populous settlement in Ghana, in terms of population, with a population of 66,546 people (according to a 2012 estimate). The current municipal chief of Aflao is Hon. Maxwell Koffie Lugudor.

History

During the Atlantic slave trade, the town grew from interference from the Anlo, towards the west, and Little Popo (Aného) towards the east, located in present-day Togo. During this time, it change hands from the Danish to the British in 1850 due to slavery ending. In 1879, The British added Aflao into the Gold Coast after initially not being included. During the late twentieth century, the border became a site of reincurring tensions. At the peak of the 1982-83 revolution, the town was under consist surveillance as border guards and cadres attempted to enforce a curfew. During this time, from 1986 to 1987, Togolese officers install a fence along the border's southern stretch after attacks from Ghanaian insurgents.

Economy

The Diamond Cement Ghana Limited factory is located at Aflao. In early 2014, a 2.5 km rail siding was completed to connect the cement works to the port of Lomé. This siding crosses the border from Togo to Ghana and is of the gauge. The total average annually volume of trade that goes through the border crossing, from data in 1996, is 24,876,651 kilogram.

Demographics

As of a 2012 estimate, Aflao has a population of 66,546 people. Most of the population is religious, with the largest religion being Christianity. Other popular religions include Islam and traditional African religions. Historically, Aflao people believed in one universal goddess named Mawu, which is believed to be all powerful and everywhere. The majority of the population is Ewe, followed by the Akan and Ga-Adangbe people.

Administration

The town's municipality has a mayor–council form of government. The mayor (executive chief) is appointed by the president of Ghana and approved by the town council, the Ketu South Municipal Assembly. As of 2024, the current mayor of the municipal is Hon. Maxwell Koffie Lugudor.

Geography

Aflao is located on the eastern coast of Ghana and is a major border town neighboring Togo.

Municipality area

The town is also located in the Ketu South Municipal District, which has a total land area of 779 sqkm. The municipality bordered Togo to the east, Keta Municipal District towards the west, the Ketu North District to the north and the Gulf of Guinea towards the south.

Climate

Aflao has a tropical savanna climate (Köppen climate classification Aw), experiencing a wet season and a dry season annually whilst the dry season occurs from December to February. The wet usually lasts from April to July or from September to October. The mean annual rainfall ranges from 850 to 1000 mm while the mean monthly temperatures are usually from 24 to 30 C.

Culture

Aflao is located in the Aflao traditional area has Togbui Amenya Fiti V as its paramount chief. He is the traditional ruler of the land and performs traditional administrative and ceremonial functions in the area.

Transport

At the border crossing, the most popular mode of transportation is pushcarts, followed by trucks/cargo trucks.

Healthcare

Aflao is home to an port health unit, a facility under the Port Health Directorate (division of the Ghana Health Service) which helps to combat public health emergencies at Ghana's land border crossings.

Notable people

Explanatory notes