The Fante people are mainly located in the Central[1] and Western regions[2] of Ghana, occupying the forest and coastal areas.

[citation needed] Major Fante cities and towns in modern Ghana include Cape Coast, Saltpond, Elmina, Sekondi-Takoradi, Agona Swedru, Mankessim,Winneba,Shama,Apam, Komenda, Kasoa and Anomabo.

According to their oral traditions, the Borbor Fante, an intrusive group, migrated from Tekyiman in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana and settled in Fanteland.

The burial ground near Mankessim, where the remains of the three leaders of the migrants (Oburumankoma, Odapagyan, and Oson) were interred, became known as Nananom Pow, the most sacred place in the Borbor Fante territory.

The Etsii Fante states, which include Eguafo, Fetu, Asebu, are positioned from west to east.

According to their oral traditions, their ancestors either descended from the heavens or emerged from the sea, rivers, or dense forests.

For instance, Eguafo, which is known as Oman Panyin in Fanteland and is the oldest state, was founded by people who descended from the heavens in a large brass pan called Ayewa Kese.

Inheritance and succession to public office among both the Etsii and Borbor Fantes are traditionally determined by matrilineal descent, a culture the Etsii (Guan) Fantes adopted from Borbor (Akan) Fantes.This culture is also common among other Akan peoples.

Facing such stern resistance, the Portuguese, Germans, Swedish and Danes after many decades vacated all trading forts in Mfantseman.

In 1844, having been weakened by constant battles with the Ashanti and their allies the Dutch, the Fante Confederacy signed the bond of 1844 with the British.

The modern Fante Confederacy was established in response to the threat of Europeans attempting to colonize vast areas within modern-day Ghana.

Due to wars with the Dutch and allied Ashanti, the combined strength of the Fante Union Army numbered more than thirty thousand men in 1844.

There have also been innovations as a result of westernization, education and foreign religion, with multiple names developed out of this phenomenon.

The Fante people were led by three great warriors known as Obrumankoma, Odapagyan and Oson (the whale, the eagle and the elephant respectively).

Legend has it that the Fante's chief priest, Komfo Amona, planted a spear in the ground when they reached the location of the settlement.

The Fante conquered these people and renamed the settlement Oman-kesemu, meaning large town.

The Fante settled the land as their first independent kingdom, and buried Obrumakankoma and Odapagya in a sacred grove called Nana-nom-pow.

Komfo Amona also planted the limb of a tree he had brought from the Akan homeland in Krako to see if a place was good for settlement.

It is celebrated as a remembrance of a historic disease outbreak, to keep the towns clean and to prevent another epidemic befalling the Fante people.