Cape Coast
—  City  —
Downtown in 2003
Cape Coast Location in Ghana
Coordinates: 05°06′00″N 01°15′00″W / 5.1°N 1.25°W / 5.1; -1.25
Country	Ghana
Region	Central Region
District	Cape Coast Metropolitan District
Population (2012)
• Total	217,032
	Ranked 7 in Ghana

Cape Coast, or Cabo Corso, is the capital of the Central Region of Ghana and is also the capital city of the Fante (Fanti) people, or (Mfantsefo). It is situated 165 km west of Accra on the Gulf of Guinea. It has a population of 217,032 (2012 census). From the 16th century the city has changed hands between the British, the Portuguese, the Swedish, the Danish and the Dutch. The city's Fante name is Oguaa.

History[link]

Founded by the Portuguese in the 15th century, Cape Coast grew around Cape Coast Castle, now a World Heritage Site. It was converted to a castle by the Dutch in 1650, then expanded by the Swedes in 1652 and captured by the British in 1664. The British based their Gold Coast operations in the town until they were expelled because of severe opposition to the "window tax" in 1877. Accra became their state. Cape Coast was also where most of the slaves were held before their journey on the Middle Passage.

Attractions[link]

The crab is the town's mascot and a statue of one lies in the city centre. Fort William, built in 1820, was an active lighthouse from 1835 to the 1970s, while Fort Victoria was built in 1702. Other attractions include a series of Asafo Shrines, Cape Coast Centre for National Culture, the Oguaa Fetu Afahye harvest festival, and since 1992, the biennial Panafest theatre festival. The city is located 30km south of Kakum National Park, one of the most diverse and best preserved national parks in West Africa. Cape Coast also boast of being the first location where soccer was played in Ghana and Ebusua Dwarfs FC is the darling club of Cape Coasters.

It is believed that Michelle Obama, U.S. First Lady, considers Cape Coast as her ancestral home,^[1] and on 11 July 2009, she took the rest of the first family to tour Cape Coast Castle as part of her husband's trip to Ghana.

View of Cape Coast fishing fleet from the Slave Castle of Cape Coast

Center of the Cape Coast Slave Castle

Main street of the University of Cape Coast

Education[link]

Cape Coast is the seat of the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Ghana's leading university in teaching and research. Cape Vars, as it is popularly called, lies on a hill overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. It also has one of the best Polytechnics in Ghana-Cape Coast Polytechnic (C-POLY).The city also boasts some of Ghana's finest secondary and technical schools:

• Wesley Girls' High School
• St. Augustine College
• Mfantsipim
• Adisadel College
• Aggrey Memorial Senior High School
• Ghana National College
• Holy Child Secondary
• Cape Coast Technical Institute

Notable Cape Coasters[link]

References[link]

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (February 2007)

• Charles Tetty, "Medical Practitioners of African Descent in Colonial Ghana", International Journal of African Historical Studies, Vol. 18, No. 1 (1985), pp. 139-44, Boston University African Studies Center.
• Gallery of Gold Coast Celebrities 1632-1958, Vol 1 2 & 3; I.S. Ephson, Ghana Publishing Corporation, 1970.
• Kofi Baku, "Kobina Sekyi of Ghana: An Annotated Bibliography of His Writings", International Journal of African Historical Studies, Vol. 24, No. 2 (1991), pp. 369-81, Boston University African Studies Center.

External links[link]

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Cape Coast.

• CapeCoastGuide.com
• Ghana-pedia webpage - Cape Coast
• Cape Coast News
• Cape Coast Daily Photos Blog
• Ghana Districts Info On Cape Coast
• Cape Coast Hoops
• Fetu Afahye DVD
• MSN Map

v t e 20 largest cities in Ghana by population Accra • Kumasi • Tamale • Ashiaman • Takoradi • Cape Coast • Obuasi • Teshie • Tema • Sekondi • Madina • Koforidua • Wa • Techiman • Ho • Sunyani • Nungua • Tema New Town • Dome • Lashibi Coat of arms of the Republic of Ghana

Coordinates: 5°06′N 1°15′W / 5.1°N 1.25°W / 5.1; -1.25

v t e District capitals in Ghana Ashanti Region Agona Ashanti Akomadan Asiwa Bekwai Effiduase Ejisu Ejura Ofoase-Kokoben Fomena Jacobu Juaso Kodie Konongo-Odumase Kumasi Kumawu Kuntanase Mampong Mamponteng Mankranso Manso Nkwanta New Edubiase Nkawie Nsuta Nyinahin Obuasi Offinso New Town Tepa Brong Ahafo Region Atebubu Bechem Berekum Busunya Dormaa Ahenkro Drobo Duayaw Nkwanta Goaso Jema Kenyasi Kintampo Kukuom Kwame Danso Nkoranza Nsawkaw Odumase Sampa Sunyani Techiman Wamfie Wenchi Yeji Central Region Abura-Dunkwa Afransi Agona Swedru Ajumako Apam Assin Foso Awutu Breku Breman Asikuma Cape Coast Diaso Dunkwa-on-Offin Elmina Nsaba Nsuaem Kyekyewere Saltpond Twifo Praso Winneba Eastern Region Abetifi Akim Oda Akim Swedru Akropong Asamankese Asesewa Atimpoku Begoro Donkorkrom Kade Kibi Koforidua Kwabeng Mpraeso New Abirem Nkawkaw Nsawam Ofoase Odumase Krobo Somanya Suhum Greater Accra Region Abokobi Accra Ada Foah Adenta Amasaman Ashaiman Dodowa Tema Teshie-Nungua Weija Northern Region Bimbilla Bole Buipe Bunkpurugu Chereponi Damongo Gambga Gushegu Karaga Kpandae Saboba Salaga Savelugu Sawla Tamale Walewale Wulensi Yendi Zabzugu Upper East Region Bawku Bolgatanga Bongo Garu Navrongo Paga Sandema Tongo Zebilla Upper West Region Funsi Gwollu Jirapa Lambussie Lawra Nadowli Tumu Wa Wechiau Volta Region Adidome Agortime-Kpetoe Akatsi Dambai Denu Dzodze Nkonya Ahenkro Ho Hohoe Jasikan Nkwanta Kadjebi Keta Kete Krachi Kpandu Kpassa Kpeve Sogakope Western Region Agona Nkwanta Asankragua Axim Bibiani Bogoso Daboase Ellembelle Enchi Essam Half-Assini Juaboso Sefwi Akontombra Sefwi Wiawso Sekondi Shama Takoradi Tarkwa Wassa-Akropong index Regional capitals in bold Regions of Ghana — Districts of Ghana — List of cities in Ghana