Central Region
Location of Central Region in Ghana
Location of Central Region in Ghana
CountryGhana
CapitalCape Coast
Districts17
Government
  Regional MinisterKwamena Duncan[1]
Area
  Total9,826 km2 (3,794 sq mi)
  RankRanked 8th
Population
 (2010 Census)
  Total2,201,863
  RankRanked 8th
  Density220/km2 (580/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
  Year2013
  Per capita$5,150
GDP (Nominal)
  Year2013
  Per capita$3,500
Time zoneGMT
Area code033
ISO 3166 codeGH-CP
HDI (2017)0.548[2]
low · 4th

The Central Region is one of the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana. It is bordered by Ashanti and Eastern regions to the north, Western region to the west, Greater Accra region to the east, and to the south by the Gulf of Guinea. 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 boasts of many tourist attractions such as castles, forts and beaches dotted 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).[3] 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

University of Cape Coast Faculty of Education Lecture Theatre building

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/Kwamank
  • 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.

African threadfish (Alectis alexandrina), from Cape Coast on the Peninsula Ashantiland.
Black jack fish (Caranx lugubris), from Cape Coast on the Peninsula Ashantiland.

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).[4] 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:

District Capital Constituency Member of Parliament Party
Abura Asebu Kwamankese Abura-Dunkwa Abura-Asebu-Kwamankese Elvis Morris Donkoh NPP
Agona East Nsaba Agona East Queenstar Pokua Sawyerr NDC
Agona West Municipal Agona Swedru Agona West Cynthia Mamle Morrison NPP
Ajumako Enyan Essiam Ajumako Ajumako-Enyan-Essiam Cassiel Ato Baah Forson NDC
Asikuma Odoben Brakwa Breman Asikuma Asikuma-Odoben-Brakwa Alhassan Kobina Ghansah NDC
Assin Central Municipal Assin Foso Assin Central Kennedy Ohene Agyapong NPP
Assin North Assin Bereku Assin North James Gyakye Quayson NDC
Assin South Nsuaem Kyekyewere Assin South John Ntim Fordjuor NPP
Awutu Senya East Municipal Kasoa Awutu-Senya East Mavis Hawa Koomson NPP
Awutu Senya West Awutu Breku Awutu-Senya West Gizella Tetteh Agbotui NDC
Cape Coast Metropolitan Cape Coast Cape Coast North Kwamena Minta Nyarku NDC
Cape Coast South Kweku George Ricketts-Hagan NDC
Effutu Municipal Winneba Effutu Alexander Afenyo-Markin

(Deputy Majority Leader)

NPP
Ekumfi Apam Ekumfi Abeiku Crenstil NDC
Gomoa East Potsin Gomoa East Desmond De-graft Paitoo NDC
Gomoa Central Afransi Gomoa Central Naana Eyiah Quansah NPP
Gomoa West Esakyir Gomoa West Richard Gyan Mensah NDC
Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Municipal Elmina Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abirem Samuel Atta Mills NDC
Mfantsiman Municipal Saltpond Mfantseman Ophelia Hayford NPP
Twifo Atti Morkwa Twifo Praso Twifo-Atii Morkwaa T.D. David Vondee NDC
Twifo/Heman/Lower Denkyira Hemang Hemang Lower Denkyira Bright Wireko Brobbey NPP
Upper Denkyira East Municipal Dunkwa-on-Offin Upper Denkyira East Festus Awuah Kwofie NPP
Upper Denkyira West Diaso Upper Denkyira West Daniel Ohene Darko NDC
Districts of the Central Region

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

References

  1. "Regional Ministers - Government of Ghana". ghana.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  2. "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  3. "Story Map Series". www.arcgis.com. Retrieved 2021-07-20.
  4. "Central Region". GhanaDistricts. Retrieved 11 December 2017.

5°30′N 1°00′W / 5.500°N 1.000°W / 5.500; -1.000

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