History
Cape Coast was founded by the people of Oguaa. The Portuguese later came to build the Cape Coast castle and so Cape Coast grew around Cape Coast Castle, now a World Heritage Site. It was converted to a castle by the Dutch in 1650, then expanded by the Swedes in 1652 and captured by the British in 1664. Trade was an important motivator in the creation of fortresses and settlements on Cape Coast. The various European countries that came to what is now the coast of Ghana created interpersonal, lasting relationships with the indigenous peoples as a method of ensuring long-term economic gain. Unfortunately, the acquisition of gold, slaves, honey, and the many other African goods that consisted the African leg of the Triangular Trade was increasingly detrimental to the inhabitants of Cape Coast.[2][page needed] The British based their Gold Coast operations in the town until they were expelled because of severe opposition to the "window tax" in 1877. Accra became their state. Cape Coast was also where most of the slaves were held before their journey on the Middle Passage.Geography
Topography
The area is dominated by batholith rock and is generally undulating with steep slopes. There are valleys of various streams between the hills, with Kakum being the largest stream.The minor streams end in wetlands, the largest of which drains into the Fosu Lagoon at Bakano. In the northern part of the district, however, the landscape is suitable for the cultivation of various crops.[3]
Climate
- Temperature
| [hide]Climate data for Cape Coast | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Average high °C (°F) | 32 (89) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
31 (87) |
30 (86) |
29 (84) |
27 (80) |
27 (80) |
26 (79) |
28 (83) |
31 (87) |
30 (86) |
29.4 (84.6) |
| Average low °C (°F) | 24 (75) |
24 (76) |
24 (76) |
25 (77) |
24 (76) |
24 (75) |
23 (73) |
22 (71) |
21 (70) |
23 (73) |
24 (76) |
23 (74) |
23.4 (74.3) |
| Average precipitation mm (inches) | 25 (1.0) |
25 (1.0) |
76 (3.0) |
127 (5.0) |
229 (9.0) |
229 (9.0) |
102 (4.0) |
25 (1.0) |
76 (3.0) |
102 (4.0) |
127 (5.0) |
152 (6.0) |
1,295 (51) |
| Source: Myweather2.com [4] | |||||||||||||
Attractions
The crab is the city's mascot and a statue of one stands 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 a series of Asafo Shrines, Cape Coast Centre for National Culture, the Oguaa Fetu Afahye harvest festival, and since 1992, the biennial Panafest theatre festival. The city is located 30 km south of Kakum National Park, one of the most diverse and best preserved national parks in West Africa. Cape Coast also boast of being the first location where soccer was played in Ghana and Ebusua Dwarfs FC is the darling club of Cape Coasters.
It is believed that Michelle Obama, U.S. First Lady, considers Cape Coast as her ancestral home,[5] and on 11 July 2009, she took the rest of the first family to tour Cape Coast Castle as part of her husband's trip to Cape Coast.
Education
- Wesley Girls' High School
- St. Augustine College
- Mfantsipim
- Adisadel College
- Aggrey Memorial Senior High School
- Ghana National College
- Holy Child Senior High School
- Cape Coast Senior High Technical Institute
- Asuansi Technical Institute
- Academy of Christ the King Senior High School
- Cape Coast International Senior High School
- University Practice Senior High School
- St. Nicholas Seminary Senior High School
- Efutu Senior High Technical School
Notable people
- J. E. Casely Hayford 1866–1930; author, lawyer, politician and educator.
- Rev. Dr. Philip Quaque: 1741–1816; first ordained African clergy of the Church of England.
- Dr. Samuel George Duker: 1905–1994; LRCP Edin LRCS Edin LRFPS Glasg; pioneering physician
- Hon. Robert Hutchison: 1828–1863; statesman, soldier, philanthropist.
- Jacob Wilson-Sey alias Kwaa Bonyin: 1832–1902; millionaire, philanthropist, founding member of the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society.
- Hon. John Sarbah: 1834–1892; educationist, merchant, industrialist.
- Rev. Mark Christian Hayford: 1863–1935; author, founder of Gold Coast Baptist Church and the Christian Army of the Gold Coast.
- Rev. Samuel Richard Brew Attoh-Ahuma: 1863–1921; clergyman, nationalist, pioneering Pan-Africanist.
- John Mensah-Sarbah 1864–1910; barrister, author, published Fanti Customary Laws.
- Charles Emmanuel Graves: 1884–1929; musicologist, composer.
- Sir James Henley Coussey, KBE: 1895–1958; High Court judge, chairman of the Coussey Commission, president of the West Africa Court of Appeal.
- Kofi Bentsi-Enchill: 1895–1948; textiles tycoon, philanthropist.
- Dr. Henry Mercer-Ricketts: 1895–1980; MB ChB Edin; pioneering physician.
- King John Aggery Essien: 1809–1899; King of Cape Coast, pioneer Pan-Africanist.
- Chief James Robert Thompson: 1810-18-86; pioneering educationist.
- Hon. Francis Chapman Grant: 1823–1889; founding member of the Fanti Confederation; cousin of Ulysses Grant.
- Thomas Frederic Edward Jones: 1850–1927; petitioned Queen Victoria about Lands Bill.
- Hon. James Cheetham: 1834–1902; merchant, member of the Legislative Council of the Gold Coast.
- Thomas Frederic Edward Jones: 1850–1927; petitioned Queen Victoria about Lands Bill.
- Rev. Andrew William Parker: 1840–1912; conscientious nationalist, fought in the Ashanti Expedition.
- Joseph Peter Brown: 1843–1932; patriot, statesman.
- Prince James Hutton Brew: 1844–1915; solicitor.
- Henry Van Hein: 1858–1928; President of the Aboriginal Rights Protection Society.
- Hon. William Ward-Brew, OBE: 1878–1943; lawyer, VP of Aborigines' Rights Protection Society.
- George Edward Moore: 1879–1950; recipient of the Ashanti Medal, executive member of the Aborigines' Rights Protection Society.
- John Coleman de-Graft Johnson: 1884–1956; secretary of Native Affairs, anthropologist.
- Prophet Jemisimiham Jehu-Appiah: 1892–1948; founder of Musama Disco Christo Church in Africa.
- William Esuman Gwira Kobina Sekyi: 1892–1956; lawyer, politician, author.
- Peter Turkson: 1948–; Cardinal-Archbishop of Cape Coast.
- Kwesi Bekoe Amissah-Arthur:1951–;current Vice President of the Republic of Ghana.
Sister cities
List of sister cities of Cape Coast, designated by Sister Cities International:| Country | City | County / District / Region / State | Date | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
Germany |  |
Bonn |  |
North Rhine-Westphalia | 2012 |
 |
United States |  |
Buffalo, NY |  |
New York | |
|
United States | Hanover Park, Illinois |  |
Illinois |
|
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