About Axim

Axim has a prominent seaside castle or fort, Fort San Antonio de Axim, built by the Portuguese in 1515 and between 1642 and 1872 expanded and altered by the Dutch, who were in possession. The fort, property of the Ghanaian state is currently in the custody of the Ghana Museums van Monuments Board (GMMB) and is open to the public. off-shore there are some picturesque islands, including one with a lighthouse. The town is divided into two parts, Upper Axim and Lower Axim. The fort lies roughly on the division between the two parts, but closest to the centre of Upper Axim. Here several large mansions of lumber-trading magnates and other businessmen remain from the British colonial period. Axim is ruled by two traditional omanhenes or chiefs, a foreign-born king, and the political District Chief Executive of Nzema East. The economy relies mainly on Axim's fishing fleet, but the area also has two tourist beach resorts and coconut and rubber plantations. The scenic and fertile terrain features many palm trees. Local artisanal miners pan for gold in streams inland from Axim. Axim has a transport station, two major bank branches, and some rural banks. Every August, the major festival of Kundum takes place, coinciding 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 forms part of the Nzema complex within the Akan culture. Residents speak the Evalue, Fante and English languages. Most of the townsfolk profess Christianity, with many churches including Anglican, Catholic, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, and several newer sects. Axim has a small Islamic mosque, and numerous traditional fetish priests. A native of Axim, Anton Wilhelm Amo (1703 - 1756) classes as the first black philosopher (specifically, the first black African to receive a philosophical education in Europe and to publish philosophical works in Europe). In Germany, he published "The Rights of Moors" (among other works) and taught philosophy at the University of Jena.