The Central Region of Ghana

Mr. Kevin Thai / Beach Photos / CC BY-ND

The Central Region of Ghana was the former administrative centre of the Gold Coast. It was the seat of administration for the British until 1877, before it was moved to Accra. On the coastline there are several ancient forts and castles build by Europeans. Three castles Elmina, St. Jago and Cape Coast, all three are World Heritage Monuments.
Cape Coast is the Capital town of the Central Region of Ghana. It was name by local Fanti population “Oguaa” before the Portuguese arrived in the country in 1471. The Region is composed of two different group of people the Guan and the Akan. The region has various tourist attractions and is the main touristic area of the country.

Cape Coast Ghana

Cape Coast is a coastal city in Ghana. It’s a popular tourist destination due to its beaches and proximity to the Cape Coast Castle, which was once an infamous slave fort, an important trading post, and its proximity to the Gold Coast has made it one of the most historically significant cities in Ghana. The first thing I noticed was the beautiful architecture of all the buildings and how well-kept they were. The roads, sidewalks, courtyards, and living spaces are clean and tidy. There is no trash on the ground or graffiti on any of the walls. You can tell that people here take pride in their community by how it looks; it really shows.

Places to Visit

Cape Coast Castle

The Cape Coast Castle was built in 1665 by the British and is a popular attraction for both visitors and locals. After a visit to the Castle you will get a better understanding of the history connecting the Transatlantic slave and Ghana. Tours last approximately 45 minutes.

Prices: Adults Ghanaian: 2 Cedis, Non-Ghanaian: 7 USD or its equivalent in Ghana Cedis.

Elmina Castle

Elmina Castle was built by the Portuguese in 1482, it was built under Don Diego d’Azambuja. The Portuguese when they came to Elmina had thought the town was full of gold, then called it “El Mina” (the mine). The name was then misunderstood as Elmina later on. The Dutch will try to take over the castle 3 times from the Portuguese and will be finally succesful in 1637 with the help of the local who wanted the Portuguese out of Elmina, and also wanted to ensure that the slave trade was ended and to be fairly treated when trading. However after the arrival of the Dutch the slave trade continued. After the slave trade ended. In 1872 the castle was sold to the British by the Dutch.

Kakum National Park

The Kakum National Park is located 30 Km north of Cape Coast its home to a variety of species and is also home to one of the main attraction the famous Canopy Walkway. It contains 7 Bridges that reach the height of 30m above the forest floor.
Tip 1: On weekends the Canopy walk is extremely busy, the best time is to go early Mornings (being there at opening time) or Mid-week.
Tip 2: If you are scared of heights, don’t look down
Tip 3: Take strong steps on the walkway, it will limit the swinging effect.