Axim

Axim is a town, district and kingdom on the coast of Ghana, West Africa. It is 63 kilometers west of the Ghanaian port city of Takoradi, south of the highway leading to the Ivory Coast border, in the Western Region.

Axim has a prominent seaside castle or fort, Fort San Antonio de Axim, first built by the Portuguese and Dutch in the early 16th Century, most of which is open to the public. There are picturesque islands offshore, including one with a lighthouse and another with an old undersea tunnel to the castle. There are two large mansions of lumber-trading magnates remaining from the British colonial period. Axim is ruled by a traditional chief, a foreign-born king, and the political District Chief Executive of Nzema East.

The economy is based mainly on Axim's fishing fleet, and there are two tourist beach resorts, coconut and rubber plantations. The terrain is scenic and fertile, with many palm trees. Axim has a transport station, two major bank branches, and some rural banks.

Every August, there is the major festival of Kundum which coincides with the best fishing catch of the year; people come to Axim for the festivities and to fish and trade, from several countries on the Guinea Coast.

Culturally, Axim is part of the Nzema complex within the Akan culture, except for the king who is associated with Biffeche. Languages: Nzema, Fante and English are spoken. The town is prominently Christian with many churches including Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and several newer sects. There is a small islamic mosque, and numerous traditional fetish priests.

Kwame Nkrumah, the first president of independent Ghana, was born in the small village of Nkroful, located just west of Axim, where he was buried until his remains were transported to Accra.