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Winneba, traditionally known as Simpa^[1], is an historic fishing town in Ghana, lying on the south coast, 35 miles west of Accra^[2] and 90 miles east of Cape Coast^[1]. The population was recorded as 40,017 in a census in 2000^[3]. Its inhabitants are known as Simpafo or Effutufo^[4]. It is the capital of the Awutu/Effutu/Senya District in Central Region.

Contents 1 Industry and culture 2 History 3 Notable people from Winneba 4 References

The main industries of Winneba are fishing and pottery. It is known for the Aboakyer deer-hunting festival of the Effutu people and its New Year fancy dress carnival^[5]. The town has a rich musical tradition and currently boasts of one of the leading musical groups in the country^{[citation needed]}. The University of Education, Winneba is one of the leading educational institutions in Ghana^{[citation needed]}. Until 1966 it was the Kwame Nkrumah Insititute of Ideology.

Winneba was founded by Osimpam Bondzie Abe 1 who had established a settlement there by 1400 AD^[6]. During the colonial era, Winneba served as a port town between Europe and the-then Gold Coast.^[7]

The first Christian body to be founded in Winneba was the Methodist Society in 1883^[8]. Pentecostalism (or spiritism/prophet-healing) in Winneba can be traced back to the introduction, in the 1930's, of the Musama Disco Christo Church; in 1976, there were some 30 churches in Winneba, about half of them pentecostal^[9]. Winneba hosted the headquarters of the Apostolic Church in Ghana until 1966, when the National Council replaced the then pastor, a native from Winneba, with someone from outside. The local congregation seceded to form the Christ Revival Church, but after four years, most church members had drifted back to the Apostolic church^[10].

• Alex Quaison-Sackey

1. ^ ^{a b} Central Region. Ghana Embassy in Japan. Retrieved on 28 April 2006.
2. ^ Kwesi Ewusi Brown, "Social Conflicts in Contemporary Effutu Festivals", 2005, Masters Thesis for Bowling Green State University, advisor Steven Cornelius, p. 1
3. ^ Brinkhoff, Thomas (2006). City population — Ghana. Retrieved on 28 April 2006.
4. ^ Brown, 2005, pp. 2-3
5. ^ Brown, 2005, p. 3
6. ^ Effutu Aboakyer Festival. Retrieved on 28 April 2006.
7. ^ Brown, 2005, p. 1
8. ^ Wyllie, Robert W. (1974) 'Pastors and prophets in Winneba, Ghana: their social background and career development', Africa, 44, 2, 186-193.
9. ^ Wyllie, Robert W. (1980) The spirit-seekers: new religious movements in southern Ghana (Studies in religion, no. 21). Missoula, MT: Scholars Press.
10. ^ Wyllie, Robert W. (1985) 'The christ revival church : a short-lived secession in Winneba', Research Review, Institute of African Studies, 1, 2, 174-179.

Coordinates: 5°20′N 0°37′W