Akwatia
{{see also|Akwatia (Ghana parliament constituency)}}
{{Use Ghanaian English|date=January 2023}}
{{coord|6|3|00|N|0|48|0|W|display=title}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name = Akwatia
|other_name =
|native_name =
|nickname = diamond city
|settlement_type = Town
|motto =
|image_skyline =
|imagesize = 300px
|pushpin_map = Ghana
|pushpin_label_position =bottom
|pushpin_map_caption =Location of Akwatia in Eastern Region
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name = Ghana
|subdivision_type1 = Region
|subdivision_name1 = Eastern Region
|subdivision_type2 = District
|subdivision_name2 = Denkyembour
|area_magnitude =
|unit_pref =Imperial
|area_footnotes =
|area_total_km2 =
|area_land_km2 =
|population_as_of =2013
|population_footnotes =
|population_note =
|timezone = GMT
|utc_offset =
|timezone_DST = GMT
|utc_offset_DST =
|coordinates = {{coord|06|03|00|N|00|48|00|W|region:GH|display=inline}}
|elevation_footnotes =
|elevation_m = 147
|elevation_ft =
}}
Akwatia is the capital of Denkyembour, a district in the Eastern region of south Ghana and west of the Atewa Range in the Birim River basin. Akwatia or Akortia also means "He returned here or there" In the indigenous language formerly known as Oji-Ounji now called Anii. Akwatia has a 2013 settlement population of 23,766 people. Akwatia is the main center of diamond extraction in Ghana. The town is the center of the Denkyembour parliamentary constituency.
Facilities
= Education =
- St. Rose's´High School{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Peace FM |title=E/R: St. Roses Old Students Held 2022 Thanksgiving Service At Akwatia |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/education/202209/473437.php |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=Peacefmonline.com - Ghana news}}
- Akwatia Technical Institute{{Cite web |date=2018-10-19 |title=Akwatia Technical Institute student stabs teacher |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Akwatia-Technical-Institute-student-stabs-teacher-693866 |access-date=2023-10-20 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}}
= Sports =
Among the athletes hailing from this town are: Kabiru Moro, Ekow Benson, Emmanuel Boateng, Oppong Enoch Opare among others. Among the notable football clubs are the Akwatia Diamond Stars,{{cite news|url=http://www.modernghana.com/sports/29959/2/division-i-sekondi-eleven-wise-win.html|title=Division I: Sekondi Eleven Wise win|date=2003-01-14|publisher=Modern Ghana Media Communication Limited|access-date=2009-03-22}}
Diamond Academy, Akwatia Vidaco Football Club, Akwatia Frankfurt Football Academy,{{Cite web |date=2006-11-10 |title=Profile: Frankfurt Football Academy in Akwatia |url=https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/SportsArchive/Profile-Frankfurt-Football-Academy-in-Akwatia-113652 |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=GhanaWeb |language=en}} Young Diamonds{{Cite web |last=Online |first=Peace FM |title=Ultimate Soccer Academy wins Easter Region U-17 Tourney |url=https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/sports/soccer/200909/26646.php |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Peacefmonline - Ghana news}} and Deelorm Academy
=Healthcare=
Akwatia has two hospitals, Saint Dominic's Hospital and The Ghanaian Consolidated Diamonds Company Hospital (G.C.D Hospital). The Saint Dominic's Hospital in Akwatia is a 320-bed facility, and the hospital opened an Eye Clinic since 2003.{{cite news|url=http://www.modernghana.com/news/35414/1/st-dominics-hospital-to-operate-eye-clinic.html|title=St Dominic's Hospital to operate Eye clinic|publisher=Modern Ghana Media Communication Limited|access-date=2009-03-22|date=2003-05-13}}
Diamond mining
The Akwatia diamond field lies in Birimian rocks and has produced over {{convert|100000000|carat|kg}} of diamonds, mostly industrial grade.{{cite journal |author=Canales, Dylan G |title=The Akwatia Diamond Field, Ghana: Source Rocks |url=http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003AM/finalprogram/abstract_63618.htm |url-status=dead |journal=gsa confex |publisher= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070629192654/http://gsa.confex.com/gsa/2003AM/finalprogram/abstract_63618.htm |archive-date=2007-06-29 |access-date=2009-03-22}} The Ghana government-owned Ghana Consolidated Diamonds (GCD) is the only formal commercial producer of diamonds, using strip mining with Manitowoc draglines.{{cite web|url=http://www.ghana-mining.org/ghweb/en/ma/mincom/mcminingnews.html |title=Geology and Mineral Deposits |publisher=Minerals Commission of Ghana |access-date=2009-03-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211033150/http://www.ghana-mining.org/ghweb/en/ma/mincom/mcminingnews.html |archive-date=11 February 2009 |url-status=dead }} Large additional resources of diamonds have been identified in the nearby Birim River deposits, including an altered meta-lamproite that may represent a primary diamond source.{{Cite book | editor-last = Kogel | editor-first = Jessica Elzea | year = 2006 | title = Industrial minerals & rocks : commodities, markets, and uses | isbn = 0-87335-233-5 | publisher = Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration | location = Littleton, Colo. }}