Aného

History

Founded in the late 17th century by Ane people fleeing from Denkyira attacks in Elmina (now in Ghana), Aného developed as a Portuguese slave market and commercial center. The town sheltered Ofori, the king of Accra, after his kingdom was conquered by the Akwamu Kingdom. Little Popo suffered the same fate in April 1702. It gradually declined in importance after the capital was transferred to Lomé in 1897, a decline exacerbated by coastal erosion. Aneho was the capital of the French occupation from 1914 to 1920. Aného remains an important intellectual center for Togo, though it has not grown as rapidly as Togo’s other major cities. Its estimated population in 2005 was 25,400.