The Amazing History of Axim (Bolofo) from 1500s to 2023

The fishing and farming village of BOLOFO in the Western Gold Coast was renamed “ATZIM” by the Portuguese in the 1500s, later referred to as AXIM to present. The first BOLOFO settlement exists in Axim for over 500 years.

Bolofo, present day Axim was founded by the Belengbli Akpolley Atwea (Aduana) Family under the leadership of Nana Kobina Ewee (Enwi) long before the Portuguese arrived in Axim the western part of the Gold Coast in the 1500s.

Long before the Portuguese arrived at Atxim, the entire lands covering the areas of the present day Lower Town Axim Traditional Area, Upper Town Axim Traditional Area, and the present day Nsein were all and still remains the Akpolley Atwea (Aduana) Family Lands. Nana Kobina Ewee (Enwi) was the Chief of Bolofo (present day Axim) and the overlord of all lands in and around Axim. Nana Enwi was succeeded by Nana Akpolley Kpanyinli.
Nana Akpolley Kpanyinli settles Portuguese

Nana Akpolley Kpanyinli settled the Portuguese on the Bolofo Ridge about 300 meters from Ntweakro where the Portuguese first lived and later named the ridge Upper Town and called the Bolofo settlement, Lower Town..

Nana Akpolley Kpanyinli granted the land on which Fort St. Anthonio was built in the year 1515 to the Portuguese. He was made the Chief broker for the Portuguese trade at Axim.

Historical records

Historical records show that the successors of Nana Akpolley made further grants of lands to the settlers in Lower Town and Upper Town Axim, including : a grant dated 23rd August, 1903 between Quarmie Tannie of Axim and King Quasie Yankey witnessed by Quacoe Bentoom and prepared by J. A. S. Cobinah; a grant dated the 9th day of April 1904 in respect of Ambah Adubra of Axim asking permission from Chief Quasie Yankey, Cudjoe Awoah and Appiah Cudjoe to build a house on their land known and called Ntweakro situated at Lower Town Axim in the Gold Coast West Africa, witnessed by Cobinah Amosu and prepared by J.A.S. Cobinah; and a grant dated the 2nd day of July 1929 in respect of two board houses evidenced by an agreement between Kweku Kyinna and Kofi Ahari family stool for a yearly rent of five (5) shillings per each house on the land, prepared and witnessed by A.A. Badoe with licence No. 3684.

Kweku Kyinna hails from Agona a town near present day Nsein about four (4) miles from Axim, he and many others from neighbouring towns settled in Axim to engage in commercial activities.

The two board properties of Kweku Kyinna are at their present locations today at Lower Town Axim and house the palace of the Paramount Chief of Lower Axim.

Axim served as growing commercial trading post and attracted many settlers from far and near. In 1642, the Dutch took over from the Portuguese and maintained cordial relations with the Belengbli Akpolley Atwea (Aduana) Family (the founders of Axim).

The Flag Saga Dutch Resident Commander at Axim, D.A. Van Hien, on the 7th of October 1847 gave a National Dutch Flag to the leader of the belengbli Akpolley Atwea (Aduana) Family, Chief Essie Ama (Kesie Arma) who succeeded Nana Edjifie Kwamin ( Nana Agyefi Kwame) as the Chief Broker belonging to Ms. Fort St. Anthony at Axim with authority that the National Flag should only be used by the Chief Broker alone and hoisted on a staff and no other flag should be carried on the Company’s flag.

A number of the Dutch soldiers and traders and the elders of the Akpolley Atwea (Aduana) Family are buried in the fore court of Fort St. Anthonio at Axim.
Fallen and buried heroes
The ancestors of the Akpolley Atwea (Aduana) family who closely worked with the Portuguese and the Dutch whose corpses are buried in the Fort St. Anthony were;

1. Nana Akpolley Kpanyinli (Appree)
2. Nana Avinli Akpolley (Appree)
3. Nana Akpolley Tika (Appree)
4. Nana Edjifie Quamie (Agyefi Kwame)
5. Nana Essie-Ama (Kesse Arma)
6. Nana Quame Appree (Kwame Akpolley)
7. Nana Quacoe Pera (Kweku Pra)
8. Nana Quaisie Ingassah (Nkansah)

By S. O. Ankamah