The Central Region is one of the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana. Ashanti and Eastern regions border it to the north, Western region to the west, Greater Accra region to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south. The Central Region is renowned for its many elite high schools and an economy based on an abundance of industrial minerals and tourism. The Central region has tourist attractions including castles, forts and beaches along the region's coastline.
Economy and tourism
The Central Region is a hub of education, with some of the best schools in the country. The region's economy is dominated by services, followed by mining and fishing. Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle are prominent UNESCO World Heritage Sites and serve as a reminder of the Trans-Atlantic slave trade. The Central Region is a major center for tourism within Ghana and it has beaches and national parks (Kakum National Park).1 U.S. President Barack Obama made his first international trip to the city of Cape Coast in 2009.
Panorama of Elmina Castle that was erected by Portuguese in 1482 as São Jorge da Mina (St. George of the Mine) Castle, also known simply as Mina or Feitoria da Mina) in present-day Elmina, Ashantiland (formerly the Gold Coast region). It was the first trading post built on the Gulf of Guinea, so is the oldest European building in existence below the Sahara. First established as a trade settlement, the castle later became one of the most important stops on the route of the Atlantic slave trade. The Dutch seized the fort from the Portuguese in 1637, and took over all the Portuguese Gold Coast in 1642. The slave trade continued under the Dutch people until 1814. Today Elmina Castle is a historical site, and was a filming location for Werner Herzog's 1987 drama film Cobra Verde. The castle is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.Education
Main article: Education in Ghana
Public Universities
Private Universities
- KAAF University College
- Marysons College, Cape Coast
- Pan African Christian University College
- Nduom School of Business and Technology
Training Colleges and Polytechnics
- OLA Training College, Old Elmina Road, Cape Coast
- Presbyterian Women Training College
- Gladmond Vocational Institute, Abura/Asebu/Kwamank
- Methodist Voc Trg Centre, Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese
- Archbishop Porter's Polytechnic, Cape Coast
- Fosu College of Education, Assin Fosu.
- Komenda College of Education, Komenda.
- Assinman Nursing and Midwifery Training College
- Cape Coast Nursing and Midwifery Training College
- Police Command and Staff Training College, Winneba
- College of Community Nursing, Winneba
Senior High Schools
- Aburaman Senior High School, Abura/Asebu/Kwamank
- Academy of Christ the King, Cape Coast
- Adankwaman Sec/Comm, Assin Darman
- Adisadel College
- Aggrey Memorial Senior High School, Cape Coast
- Apam Senior High School
- Assin Manso Senior High School, Assin Manso
- Assin North Sec/Tech, Assin Asempanaye
- Assin Nsuta Senior High School, Assin Nsuta
- Assin State College, Assin Bereku
- Awutu-Winton Senior High School, Awutu/Efutu/Senya
- Besease Sec/Comm, Ajumako Besease
- Boa-Amponsem Senior High School, DUNKWA-ON-OFFIN
- Breman Asikuma Senior High School, Asikuma/Od/Brakwa
- Charity Comm Sch, Twifo Hemang
- Charity International Senior High School, Gomoa Manso
- Diaso Senior High School, Upper Denkyira
- Dunkwa Sec/Tech, Dunkwa -On-Offin
- Edinaman Day Senior School, Edin/Kom/Eguafo
- Effutu Sec/Tech, Cape Coast
- Ekumfi T.I Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Ekumfi Ekroful
- Eguafo-Abrem Senior High School, Edin/Kom/Eguafo
- Enyan Denkyira Senior High, Abura/Asebu/Kwamank
- Eyan Denkyira Senior High School, Ajumako/Enyan/Esiam
- Ghana National College
- Gomoa Sec/Tech, Gomoa
- Holy Child High School, Ghana
- Insaanyya Senior High Business School, Kasoa
- Jukwa Senior High, Twifo Hemang
- Komenda Senior High School Edin/Kom/Eguafo
- Kumfi T. I Ahmadiiyya Senior High, Abura/Asebu/Kwamank
- Kwanyako Senior High School, Agona Kwanyako
- Kwegyir Aggrey Senior High School
- Mando Day Senior High School, Ajumako/Enyan/Esiam
- Mankessim Sec/Tech, Mankessim
- Mfantsiman Girls' Secondary School
- Mfantsipim School
- MOSECO, Kasoa
- Nsaba Presby Senior High, Agona Nsaba
- Nyakrom Day Senior High, Agona Nyakrom
- Nyankumase Ahenkro Senior High, Fante Nyankomase
- Obama College, Mankessim
- Obiri Yeboah Senior High, Assin Fosu
- Obrakyere Sec/Tech Awutu/Efutu/Senya
- Odoben Senior High, Asikuma/Od/Brakwa
- Oguaa Sec/Tech, Cape Coast
- Pank Secondary Business College, Awutu Bawjiase
- Potsin T.I Ahm Senior High School, Gomoa Potsin
- S.D.A Senior High School, Gomoa Manso
- Saltpond Meth. Senior High, Saltpond
- Sammo Senior High School, Cape Coast
- Senya Senior High
- St. Augustine's College (Cape Coast)
- Swedru School of Business
- Swedru Senior high, Agona Swedru
- University Practice Senior High School
- Wesley Girls' High School
- Winneba Senior High, Winneba
- Moree Senior High Technical School
Cuisine
The Central Region is well known for its varied choices in cuisine. Etsew and Fantefante (fresh fish palm oil stew) is the main dish enjoyed. Kenkey and Fufu are both eaten with a variety of sauces, stews, and soups. Seafood is commonly eaten across the Central Region.
Administrative divisions
The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 22 MMDA's (made up of 1 Metropolitan, 7 Municipal and 14 District Assemblies).2 Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Assembly, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves. The current list is as follows:
Notable citizens
| Notable citizens of Central region | ||
|---|---|---|
| # | Name | Home Town |
| 1 | Nana Ato Arthur | Elmina |
| 2 | George Amoh | Dunkwa-Offin |
| 3 | Ishmael Yartei | Agona Swedru |
| 4 | Yvonne Nelson | Cape Coast |
| 5 | Jackie Appiah | Cape Coast |
| 6 | Menaye Donkor | Agona Asafo |
| 7 | Paul Boateng | Cape Coast |
| 8 | Van Vicker | Cape Coast |
| 9 | Majid Michel | Cape Coast |
| 10 | Michael Essien | Cape Coast |
| 11 | John Mensah | Cape Coast |
| 12 | Lydia Forson | Cape Coast |
| 13 | Kwesi Amissah-Arthur | Cape Coast |
| 14 | Paa Kwesi Nduom | Elmina |
| 15 | Asamoah Boateng | Kormantse |
| 16 | John Evans Atta Mills | Cape Coast |
| 17 | Kwabena Kwabena | Gomoa Mpota |
| 18 | Nathan Kwabena Adisi | Gomoa Mpota |
5°30′N 1°00′W / 5.500°N 1.000°W / 5.500; -1.000
References
"Story Map Series". www.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20. https://www.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=3386911906db44db8ce72c5d925caec8 ↩
"Central Region". GhanaDistricts. Retrieved 11 December 2017. http://www.ghanadistricts.com/Home/Region/3 ↩