# Ghana Place Names

> website

**Wikidata**: [Q109657673](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q109657673)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ghana-place-names

## Summary  
Ghana Place Names (GPN) is a website and gazetteer established on October 2, 2010, dedicated to documenting and preserving toponyms (place names) in Ghana. It provides historical and modern names, variant spellings, and geographical data, serving as a reference for research, education, and cultural heritage. The platform is accessible online and maintains an active Twitter presence since September 23, 2013.  

## Key Facts  
- **Inception**: October 2, 2010.  
- **Website**: https://sites.google.com/site/ghanaplacenames/ (last updated November 21, 2021).  
- **Twitter**: @ghanaplacenames (active since September 23, 2013).  
- **Focus**: Toponyms specific to Ghana, including historical and modern names.  
- **Language**: Primarily English.  
- **Copyright Status**: Copyrighted.  
- **Classification**: Functions as both a website and a specialized gazetteer.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the purpose of Ghana Place Names?  
A: Ghana Place Names documents and preserves Ghanaian toponyms, offering historical context, variant spellings, and geographical details for research and cultural preservation.  

### Q: When was Ghana Place Names created?  
A: The project was established on October 2, 2010.  

### Q: How can I access Ghana Place Names?  
A: The platform is available at https://sites.google.com/site/ghanaplacenames/ and shares updates via its Twitter account @ghanaplacenames.  

## Why It Matters  
Ghana Place Names plays a critical role in preserving Ghana’s linguistic and geographical heritage by systematically recording place names that might otherwise be lost to modernization or cultural shifts. It addresses the need for a centralized, accessible resource on Ghanaian toponyms, supporting academic research, local governance, and public education. By bridging historical and contemporary naming practices, GPN helps maintain cultural identity and aids in understanding the sociohistorical context of Ghana’s landscape. Its existence ensures continuity in geographical knowledge, mitigating the risk of erasure of indigenous names and fostering pride in local heritage.  

## Notable For  
- **Specialized Focus**: One of the few gazetteers dedicated exclusively to Ghanaian toponyms.  
- **Historical Scope**: Includes obsolete and archaic names alongside modern designations.  
- **Accessibility**: Free online access with updates provided via social media.  
- **Language Standardization**: Presents data in English, enhancing usability for international researchers.  

## Body  
### Overview  
Ghana Place Names (GPN) is a digital initiative launched on October 2, 2010, to compile and contextualize place names across Ghana. It operates as both a website and a gazetteer, emphasizing historical accuracy and cultural relevance.  

### Inception and Development  
- **Founding Date**: October 2, 2010, as documented on its project definition page.  
- **Website Launch**: The current site (https://sites.google.com/site/ghanaplacenames/) was last updated on November 21, 2021.  
- **Social Media**: The Twitter account (@ghanaplacenames) was created on September 23, 2013, to disseminate updates and engage users.  

### Features  
- **Data Coverage**: Includes historical names, variant spellings, and geographical coordinates.  
- **Geographical Scope**: Focuses exclusively on Ghana, with entries tied to specific regions and landmarks.  
- **Language**: Content is presented in English, with names often accompanied by local language etymologies.  

### Accessibility and Usage  
- **Online Availability**: The platform is freely accessible, though its content remains copyrighted.  
- **Audience**: Serves researchers, educators, policymakers, and the general public interested in Ghanaian geography and history.  

### Technical Details  
- **Structure**: Organized as a set of interlinked web pages under a single domain.  
- **Updates**: The site maintains a blog-like format with periodic additions, such as the 2021 update referenced in its metadata.  

### Cultural Significance  
By preserving toponyms, GPN contributes to the broader effort of safeguarding Ghana’s cultural memory. It highlights the dynamic nature of place naming, reflecting colonial influences, indigenous traditions, and post-independence identity formation. This resource is particularly valuable in an era of rapid urbanization, where traditional names risk being displaced by standardized or foreign terms.

## References

1. [Source](https://sites.google.com/site/ghanaplacenames/project-definition/old-new)