This Ghanaian 🇬🇭 Town is Called 'Small London'...But Why?

Added: 2026-05-09

[00:00:04]Over the past 1 year, I've traversed the length and breadth of Ghana.

[00:00:09]I've climbed its highest peak, stood in its oldest shrines, and walked through markets that never sleep.

[00:00:16]But Ghana has a way of hiding its most interesting stories in the quietest corners.

[00:00:22]I'm currently in the Volta region, and today's story is going to be very different.

[00:00:27]The town I'm about to show you is not just about beauty, >> [music] >> it's about history, it's about identity, and more importantly, it's about reputation.

[00:00:37]This is Anyako. They call it Small London. Not because of the weather, >> [music] >> and certainly not because of the architecture you see at first glance, but because of the spirit of order, education, and the pride that has defined this town for generations.

[00:00:53][music] >> [music] >> But why should you care about this small island town? Well, it's because in a world that is rapidly changing, [music] Anyako represents a legacy of excellence that refuses to be forgotten.

[00:01:11]>> [music] >> And here's why. Back in the day, Anyako was one of the first places in this region to embrace formal education. It became a hub for the elite, a place where people valued literacy and social structure above all else.

[00:01:25]That's where the Small London name took roots. It was a compliment to the town's sophistication. So, this early adoption of education by Anyako made it a hometown to some renowned personalities in Ghana's history.

[00:01:38]For example, John W. K. Hilla, who was the first Inspector General of Police of the Ghana Police Service, hailed from this town. Also, Komla Agbeli Gbedemah, who was the first Finance Minister of Ghana and a personal confidant of the Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, also came from Anyako. And also, Corporal Attipoe, who was part of the three ex-servicemen that was shot to death in 1948 that started the 1948 riots, also came from this small island town called Anyako.

[00:02:08]Just like how London is built around the River Thames, Anyako is surrounded by water.

[00:02:14]But here, the land is limited, and everything feels compressed. Homes, paths, and daily lives all fitting into a very small space. Something feels different here. You know, the town feels organized, peaceful, and it's almost like everything has its place here.

[00:02:34]I arrived in Anyako on Easter Sunday, >> [music] >> and the entire town had come alive. At the town square, people gathered not just to celebrate, but to express who they truly are.

[00:02:46]The rhythm of the Bobobo and the energy of the Akpaja, it was just beautiful to see people express their identity, culture, and history all at one place.

[00:02:57]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Being an island town has its challenges.

[00:03:28]The same lagoon that takes Anyako also isolates it. [music] You know, fishing is the main source of livelihood here, but as the world moves faster, places like Anyako risk being left behind. And then the lagoon here happens to be their livelihood, where they all depend on for their source of food and also income. They catch fishes and then they sell. But then there's no uh let me say business in the town. Uh there are minor schools, and I think there's one secondary school in the town, but there's no hospital unless you go to Akpafu before you can be able to access. So, the youth in the town are having challenges. Because some of them have finished secondary school, some of them are also done with their university, but they cannot be fishing at this time. So, they all had to leave the town and go to Accra for greener pastures. So, that is the challenge we have in this community. So, if investors like Afro-Arab Group of Companies will just hear us and also try as much as possible to come to our aid so that they can bring some development in the community. While he happens to be a youth ambassador for uh Ghana, we are all calling upon him so that he hears our cry and come to our aid and support us. Thank you.

[00:04:44]Now, um what are some of the activities you think that we can create here? I mean, looking at the water here, we are moving to an island. Yeah, from here for now, we are moving to an island where, for me, I think the island could be a recreational center. Totally.

[00:05:00]>> Where it will attract more tourists into the community. Because usually, when you are here on the weekends, you see the expats coming all over just to come and see the lagoon. But unfortunately, when they come, there is no place to lay their head. So, they had to go all the way to Akpafu or maybe nearby communities before they get a place. So, to start from, he can help us with maybe a recreational center, a hotel, or something of that sort, which will also create employment for the youth also in the community.

[00:05:30]Apart from that, waste disposal here is a concern.

[00:05:33]>> [music] >> Some of the dumping sites are very close to the water.

[00:05:37]This affects the cleanliness of the lagoon, which is an important part of life in the town.

[00:05:49]>> [music] [music] [music] [music] >> Even though the water level rises sometimes and disturbs [music] the settlement in Anyako, there's beauty in this preservation.

[00:06:25]There's a sense of community here that you cannot find in the big London.

[00:06:28][music] People know their neighbors, they know their history, and they are fiercely protective of the titles [music] they have inherited.

[00:06:39]As I finish my time here, I realized that Small London isn't about mimicking a foreign city.

[00:06:45]It's a badge of honor for [music] a town that decided a long time ago to be a beacon of light in the Volta region.

[00:06:53]Anyako reminds us that every town has a story worth telling [music] if you are willing to take a boat ride to find it.

[00:07:00]If you ever find yourself in the Volta region, don't just pass by. Visit the island and then feel the vibe. If you made it to this point of the video, thank you so much for your support. Do me a favor, like this video and then subscribe to the channel. I'm trying to get to 10,000 subscribers by the end of the year.

[00:07:18]And as always, I'll see you in the next one.