Schools in Central Region
4,307 schools across 22 districts in Central Region, 9.9% of every school in Ghana, against an average of 2,727 a region. 139 are senior high schools and 43% of schools with a stated owner are private. The regional capital is Cape Coast. About 75% of people aged 6 and over can read and write (our calculation from Census 2021 counts).
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About Central Region
Central Region runs along the coast west of Accra, with Cape Coast as its capital. In 2021 it had 2,859,821 people, about 9.3 percent of Ghana's population, living on 9,826 square kilometres. It has 22 municipal and district assemblies. The region was created around 1970, when the old Western Region was divided in two. Many families know Central Region for its schools. The University of Cape Coast opened in 1962 and the University of Education, Winneba followed in 1992. Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle are part of a UNESCO World Heritage property, and inland, Kakum National Park is known for its canopy walkway. Fante is the main language. Festivals such as Fetu Afahye in September and Aboakyer in May mark the year, and the Asafo companies still parade with their painted flags.
How the region came about: Created around 1970, when the old Western Region was divided into the Central and Western Regions. Its boundaries did not change in the 2019 region reforms.
What makes Central Region proud
- Wesley Girls' High School in Cape Coast started in 1836 with 25 girls.
- Cape Coast Castle and Elmina Castle are part of a UNESCO World Heritage property.
- Kakum National Park has a canopy walkway of seven suspension bridges.
- Fante Asafo flags carry proverbs and pictures and are still danced at festivals.
Education pride in Central
Founding years are shown only where the sources are reliable and agree. A school without a year here is listed without one rather than guessed.
- Wesley Girls' High Schoolopened 1836
- Adisadel Collegeopened 1910
- Mfantsipim SchoolCape Coast
- The Ghana Health Service regional profile calls Central Region a citadel of education and lists two public universities, one technical university and three colleges of education in the region.
- The University of Cape Coast began in October 1962 as a university college and became a full university in 1971. The University of Education, Winneba brought seven teacher-training and related colleges together in 1992.
Universities and colleges based here
- University of Cape Coast Cape Coast, Public university, since 1962
- University of Education, Winneba Winneba, Public university, since 1992
Central in numbers
4,307 schools on the register, counted by level and owner, against the whole country.
Schools by level
- Basic schools2,920 · 68%
- Junior high schools843 · 20%
- Primary schools340 · 8%
- Senior high schools139 · 3%
- Vocational schools28 · 1%
- Kindergartens15 · 0%
- Nursing and midwifery training colleges8 · 0%
- Tertiary colleges2 · 0%
- Universities2 · 0%
- Technical universities1 · 0%
Source: Ministry of Education school register, 2023/24. Basic schools combine KG, primary and JHS at one campus and are not split in the register.
Public and private
Ghana: 29.0% private. Share is of schools with a stated owner.
Literacy and learning
Literacy is our own calculation from the Census 2021 counts. Learning scores are older, and are labelled with the region as it was then.
Share of people aged 6 and over who can read and write, by region
Central is 75.2% against 69.8% for the 16 regions together. Highest: Greater Accra 87.9%. Lowest: Savannah 32.8%.
Our calculation from Census 2021 counts (1,844,873 literate of 2,452,182 aged 6 and over in Central). Source: Ghana Statistical Service, 2021.
Learning figures, Central Region, before 2019
Source: Ministry of Education, Ghana Education Service, UNICEF and CDD-Ghana, 2013 to 2018. These describe the region with its boundaries before 2019, not today's.
Culture and heritage in Central Region
Festival months are the usual ones, and some move with the lunar calendar. Ask locally before you travel.
Festivals and their usual month
No month we can confirm: PANAFEST.
- Fetu AfahyeCape Coast (Oguaa) The main festival of the Cape Coast traditional area, with processions of the town's Asafo companies.
- AboakyerEffutu people of Winneba The deer-catching festival of Winneba, held on the first Saturday in May.
- BakatueEdina (Elmina) Marks the lifting of the ban on fishing and noise on the Benya Lagoon and the start of the fishing season.
- PANAFESTCape Coast A Pan African festival begun in 1992 that uses the old slave forts and other sites of memory for ceremonies, theatre and talks.
- Fante Asafo companies in Cape Coast, Anomabu, Apam and Dago keep painted flags that carry proverbs and pictures, and flag dancers show them at the annual festivals.
- Canoe building and fishing net making are traditional crafts along the coast.
Heritage sites
- UNESCOCape Coast CastleCape Coast One of three castles in the UNESCO World Heritage property for the forts and castles of Ghana's coast, inscribed in 1979.
- UNESCOElmina Castle (St George's)Elmina Also one of the three castles in the UNESCO property.
- UNESCOFort WilliamAnomabu Listed in the UNESCO property and, with James Fort in Accra, handed to the Ghana Museums and Monuments Board when prison use ended.
- national parkKakum National ParkOdumase Abrafo, Twifo Hemang Lower Denkyira District Twinned with the Assin Attandanso reserve. Its canopy walkway of seven suspension bridges is the main attraction.
The economy of Central Region in a line
Farming and fishing are the main occupations, according to the Ghana Health Service profile. Cape Coast, Elmina and Kakum bring heritage and nature visitors to the region.
Districts of Central Region
Every district, with its private share and senior high count. Schools with no district recorded are in the region total only.
| District | Schools | Private | Senior high |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gomoa East | 432 | 80% | 12 |
| Awutu Senya East Municipal | 304 | 84% | 3 |
| Assin North | 285 | 19% | 5 |
| Mfantsiman Municipal | 284 | 36% | 12 |
| Twifo Heman Lower Denkyira | 283 | 25% | 2 |
| Awutu Senya | 256 | 57% | 10 |
| Assin South | 221 | 24% | 10 |
| Komenda Edina Eguafo Abirem Municipal | 216 | 45% | 6 |
| Abura Asebu Kwamankese | 213 | 36% | 5 |
| CCMA | 206 | 62% | 6 |
| Agona West Municipal | 189 | 49% | 9 |
| Asikuma Odoben Brakwa | 175 | 30% | 4 |
| Gomoa West | 170 | 25% | 5 |
| Agona East | 170 | 28% | 6 |
| Upper Denkyira East Municipal | 154 | 18% | 4 |
| Ajumako Enyan Essiam | 152 | 31% | 8 |
| Twifo Ati Morkwa | 125 | 30% | 2 |
| Assin Fosu Municipal | 98 | 51% | 1 |
| Effutu Municipal | 97 | 42% | 6 |
| Upper Denkyira West | 75 | 31% | 1 |
| Gomoa Central | 71 | 41% | 1 |
| Ekumfi | 55 | 16% | 4 |
Cities and towns in Central Region
- Kasoa city
- Cape Coast city
- Winneba city
- Kasoa84
- Buduburam41
- Cape Coast39
- Assin Foso34
- Winneba30
- Bantama29
- Akwele Nkwanta26
- Nyanyanu26
- Dunkwa24
- Mankessim24
Senior high schools in Central Region
The first ten of 139. The full list, by district, has its own page.
| School | Level | Ownership | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| A & D Memorial Institute | Senior High | private | Gomoa East |
| A. M. E Zion Girl's S. H. S | Senior High | private | Effutu Municipal |
| A. M. E. Zion Girls' Senior High School | Senior High | private | Effutu Municipal |
| Aak Islamic SHS | Senior High | private | Abura Asebu Kwamankese |
| Abeadze State College | Senior High | public | Mfantsiman Municipal |
| Abeadze State College (ASCO) | Senior High | private | Mfantsiman Municipal |
| Aburaman Senior High School | Senior High | public | Abura Asebu Kwamankese |
| Academy of Christ the King | Senior High | public | CCMA |
| Adankwaman Secondary/Commercial School | Senior High | public | Assin South |
| Adankwaman Senior High School | Senior High | public | Assin South |
All 139 senior high schools in Central Region
Universities and colleges in Central Region
5 universities, technical universities, colleges of education and other tertiary institutions on the register carry a Central region. 8 nursing and midwifery training colleges are listed.
| School | Level | Ownership | District |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cape Coast Technical University | Technical university | public | not stated |
| Perez University College | Tertiary college | private | not stated |
| University College of Management Studies (UCOMS) | Tertiary college | private | Gomoa East |
| University of Cape Coast (UCC) | University | public | Abura Asebu Kwamankese |
| University of Education, Winneba | University | public | Awutu Senya |
Search universities in Central Region
Schools near me in Central Region
Looking for schools near you, or near Central Region? Open the near me tool and, if you choose to share your location, it lists the closest schools to where you are. Your position is used once to work out the list and is not stored. You can pick a town instead.
Find schools near meQuestions people ask about schools in Central Region
- How many schools are there in Central Region?
- 4,307 schools across 22 districts, which is 9.9% of every school in Ghana. 139 of them are senior high schools.
- Which district in Central Region has the most schools?
- Gomoa East, with 432 schools.
- How do I find schools near me in Central Region?
- Open the schools near me page and allow your location, or choose your town. It lists the closest schools to you from the schools whose position we trust. Each district page in Central Region also lists its schools.
- What are the best schools in Central Region?
- Cape Coast has some of the oldest secondary schools in the country. Adisadel College was founded in 1910. These are facts about history, not a ranking. To compare schools by area and programme, use the SchoolRegistry directory.
- Which universities are in Central Region?
- The University of Cape Coast began as a university college in 1962 and the University of Education, Winneba was established in 1992. The Ghana Health Service profile also lists a technical university and three colleges of education in the region.
- What is the Fetu Afahye festival in Cape Coast?
- Fetu Afahye is the main annual festival of the Cape Coast traditional area. It is held in September and includes processions of the Asafo companies through the town.