It began as a move. Alhaji Seidu Kardo and his followers had settled on La land near Shiashi, close to where the University of Ghana stands. When their numbers grew, Kardo asked for new land and was given a site at Mile 10 on the road north of Accra, beside the La village of Nkwantanang. On 4 June 1959, Madina was founded there.
The name
The town took its name from Medina, the city in Arabia associated with the Prophet Muhammad. The name reflected the faith of its founder and many of its early residents.
A mixed settlement
The first settlers included many people from northern Ghana and from neighbouring countries, alongside southern Ghanaians. Relations with the nearby La settlement of Nkwantanang were difficult from the start, according to the linguist Mary Esther Kropp Dakubu’s account, so Kardo developed Madina as a separate town. The two communities later grew into each other, and the area’s local government unit carries both names.
Madina market
Madina market is one of the biggest markets in Accra. It stretches from the Madina Zongo junction towards the Madina Polyclinic area. Traders sell foodstuffs, clothes, household goods, electronics and almost everything else. The market draws shoppers from Legon, Adenta, Oyarifa and beyond.
The mosque
The Madina central mosque, established after the town’s founding, became an important religious centre. It houses a basic school and a madrasa for Koranic studies.
Near Legon
Madina’s position close to the University of Ghana made it a popular place for students and university workers to rent rooms. Many lecturers and staff have lived there, and its rents have long been lower than in the areas closer to the city centre.
Traffic and growth
Madina sits on the Legon-Adenta road, one of the busiest routes in Accra. The road was widened over the years, and footbridges were added, but traffic around Madina junction and the market remains heavy, especially in the evening.
A town of its own
Madina has its own banks, hospitals, schools, churches and nightlife. Many residents rarely need to travel into central Accra.
Alhaji Seidu Kardo named his new settlement after a holy city of refuge. Sixty-seven years later, Madina is a refuge of a different kind, for the many people looking for an affordable home near the capital.
