People and Places: Anlo Village

Anlo Village, a thriving fishing and farming community in the Shama District of the Western Region, has a rich history dating back to the early 1900s. It is a small community of Ewe settlers sandwiched between the sea and the Pra River at Shama.

Oral history has it that, two brothers, Togbe Tekple and Togbe Acolatse from the Anlo area in the Volta Region went in search of their brother who had travelled to the region as a construction worker during the Takoradi Port and railways projects. 

They settled on the coast of Shama, naming the area ‘Shama Kedzi’ literally meaning ‘the top of the Shama sand’. 

Other natives of Srogbe also migrated to the place and contributed to its development. 

As the community grew, intermarriages occurred and the village became a sizeable settlement.

They established a school and other facilities to cater for the growing population of children. 

The settlement later became known as the Anlo Village, since most of the people were kinsmen from the Anlo area. 

Today, the Anlo Village boasts a population of over 4,000 and has produced many prominent citizens. 

The community continues to thrive, with farming and fishing remaining the main occupations. 

However, coastal erosion has presented challenges, including uprooting coconut trees, affecting farms, and resulting in limited space for fishing activities.

The community's rich history, culture and traditions remain strong, and its people look forward to a brighter future.