Cape Coast

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Cape Coast
Downtown
Cape Coast Location in Ghana
Coordinates: 5°06′N 1°15′W / 5.1°N 1.25°W / 5.1; -1.25
Country	Ghana
Region	Central Region
District
Population (2000)
- Total	82,291

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 82,291 (2000 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 [pronounced in an Anglophone style as "Ee-gwer," with the accent on the second syllable, which rhymes with 'where'].

History

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 1637, 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 Accra became their capital in 1877. Cape Coast was also where most of the slaves were held before their journey on the Middle Passage.

The Cape Coast Slave Castle

Attractions

The town's symbol is a crab 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 the Cape Coast Centre for National Culture, the Oguaa Fetu Afahye harvest festival and, since 1992, the biennial Panafest theatre festival.

Cape Coast, Ghana. View of the fishing fleet

It is believed that the First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama considers Cape Coast as her ancestral home^{[citation needed]}, and on July 11 2009, took the First Family of the United States to tour Cape Coast Castle as part of the visit of President Obama to Ghana.

Education

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. The city also boasts some of Ghana's finest secondary and technical schools:

• Wesley Girls' High School
• St. Augustine College
• Mfantsipim
• Adisadel College (ADISCO)
• Aggrey Memorial AME Secondary School (AGGREY)
• Ghana National College (GHANACOLL)
• Holy Child Secondary
• Cape Coast Technical Institute (CAPETECH).

External links

• Ghana-pedia webpage - Cape Coast
• Cape Coast News
• Cape Coast Daily Photos Blog
• Ghana Districts Info On Cape Coast
• CapeCoastOnline
• Cape Coast Hoops
• Fetu Afahye DVD
• Radio Central the region's public service broadcaster. (www.radiocentralonline.com)

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