BRIEF PROFILE OF THE CENTRAL REGION
The Central Region was carved out from the then Western Region in 1970 and it occupies 4.1% of the total area of Ghana, making it the third smallest in area after Greater Accra and Upper East. It shares common boundaries with Western Region on the west, Ashanti and Eastern Regions on the north, and Greater Accra Region on the east. On the south is the 168-kilometre length Atlantic Ocean (Gulf of Guinea) coastline.
The Central Region was the former administrative centre of the Gold Coast. The region was the first area in the country to make formal contact with the Europeans. Its capital, Cape Coast, with the local name Oguaa was the capital of the Gold Coast until 1877, when the capital was moved to Accra. It was in the Cape Coast Castle that the historic Bond of 1844 was signed between the British and the 17 coastal and near-coastal states.
Currently, the region has 22 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) comprising of 1 Metropolis, 6 Municipals and 15 Districts. According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, the Central Region has a population of 2,859,821, thus, the 5th largest region in Ghana.
The region is known as the tourist hub of Ghana as it is home to more than 15 tourist sites notably, Elmina Castle, Cape Coast Castle, Kakum National Park, Assin Manso Ancestral Slave River Park, Fort Amsterdam, International Stingless Bee Centre, Hans Cottage Botel, Sir Charles Beach of Winneba and beautiful beach sceneries along its coastlines.
The region is predominantly made of 56% of Mfantse people, 16% other Akan sub-ethnic groups, 6.1% Guans, and 4.8% of Ewes. The region has more than 20 paramount chiefs and has a rich cultural heritage as it is the region of festivals in Ghana with notable ones being Aboakyir, Oguaa Fetu, Edina Bakatue, Edina Bronya, Akwambo, Ahobaa Kese, Masqueraders Festival and Odwira. Other festivals include, Pan African Historical Theatre Festival and Emancipation Day Celebration.
Komenda Cave
Fort St. Jago
Major festivals in the Central Region and the periods they are organized.
| Name | Period | Location/People |
|---|---|---|
| Edina Bronya | 1st Week of January | Elmina |
| International African Choral Festival | March | Cape Coast |
| Odunkwaa | April | Abakrampa/ Abura Dunkwa |
| Aboakyir | 1st Week of May | Winneba |
| Edina Bakatue | 1st Week of July | Elmina |
| PANAFEST/ Emancipation | July-August | Cape Coast/ Elmina/ Assin Praso/ Assin Manso |
| Akwambo | August | People of Agona/ Mankessim |
| Odambea | August | Saltpond |
| Awubia | August | People of Awutu |
| Ahobaa Kese | Last Week of August | Abeadze Traditional Area |
| Fetu Afahye | 1st Week of September | Cape Coast |
| Nyeyi and Tuakrom | September | Komenda/ Hemang |
| Okyir | October | Anomabo |
Education – the Central Region is known as a citadel of education in Ghana. it can boast of lots of renowned second cycle institutions such as Wesley Girls High School, Holy Child School, Ghana National College, Aggrey Memorial Zion SHS, Adisadel College, Mfantsipim School, St. Augustine’s College and many more. The Fourth Best University in Africa, University of Cape Coast, is situated in the Central Region. The University of Education, Winneba, Cape Coast Technical University, Pan African University College, Pomadze, KAAF University College, Budumburam and many more. The region can also boast of Teacher Training and Nursing Training schools.
The details of the administrative Metropolis/Municipalities/Districts and their capitals are as follows;
| District | Capital |
|---|---|
| Abura/Asebu/Kwamankese | Dunkwa |
| Agona East | Nsaba |
| Agona West Municipal | Swedru |
| Ajumako/Enyan/Essiam | Ajumako |
| Asikuma/Odoben/Brakwa | Breman Asikuma |
| Assin North Municipal | Assin Foso |
| Assin South | Nsuem-Kyekyewere |
| Awutu-Senya East Municipal | Kasoa |
| Awutu Senya West | Awutu Breku |
| Cape Coast Metropolis | Cape Coast |
| Efutu Municipal | Winneba |
| Ekumfi | Essarkyir |
| Gomoa East | Afransi |
| Gomoa West | Apam |
| Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abrem | Elmina |
| Twi-Atti Morkwa | Twifo Praso |
| Twifo/Heman/Lower/Denkyira | Heman |
| Upper Denkyira East Municipal | Dunkwa-on-Offin |
| Upper Denkyira West | Diaso |