Cape Coast was founded by a hunter from Efutu called Egya Oguaa during his hunting expedition. It was however controlled by various colonial administrations from the 16th Century.

The Swedish, Portuguese, Danish, Dutch and the British have all administered the city in the course of its colonial history. 'Cabo Corso,' meaning 'short cape', is the name the Portuguese settled on for the local settlement within which its trade lodge was built in 1555. It’s corrupted to 'Cape Coast'

Cape Coast is the capital of the Central Region, in southern Ghana. it was the first capital of the Gold Coast before Accra took over. It’s known for its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

Overlooking the Gulf of Guinea, Cape Coast Castle is a large whitewashed fort built by the Swedish in the 17th century. It was later used by the British as a holding prison for slaves. Inside, the Castle Museum has exhibits on pre-colonial local history, the slave trade and traditional crafts.

The major economic activities of the people are fishing, trading, and tourism. Notable buildings include Christ Church (1865; the first Anglican church in the country), Wesley Chapel (1838), and the Cathedral of St. Francis, seat of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Ghana. A polytechnic school was initiated in 1974, and the Cape Coast Urban Health Centre was completed in 1976.