Accra, << uh KRAH or AK ruh >> (pop. 964,879; met. area pop. 1,420,065), is the capital and largest city of Ghana. It lies on the northern coast of the Gulf of Guinea. Accra’s transportation facilities include a railroad and an international airport. The city’s industries include the production of tile and brick and the processing of diamonds and lumber. The University of Ghana is located in Legon, a residential area north of the city.
Accra was established by the Ga people by the mid-1600’s. It was a center of the African slave trade from the 1500’s to the mid-1800’s. European nations competing for slaves built several forts in Accra. In 1923, a railroad linking Accra and the interior added to the city’s economic importance.
