Elmina
Elmina
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Top picture: Skyline of Elmina, Bottom left picture: Elmina Castle Bottom right picture: Coast of Elmina on the Gulf of Guinea | |
| Etymology: Elmina ("The mine") | |
Location of Elmina in Central Region, South Ghana | |
| Coordinates: 5°05′N 1°21′W / 5.083°N 1.350°W | |
| Country | Ghana |
| Region | Central Region |
| District | Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem Municipal District |
| Government | |
| • Municipal chief | Hon. Solomon Ebo Appiah |
| Elevation | 10 m (30 ft) |
| Population (2013): 32 | |
• Total | 33,576 |
| • Religions |
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| Time zone | GMT |
| • Summer (DST) | GMT |
| Postal district | CK |
| Area code | 033 |
| Climate | Aw |
| Website | keeama.gov.gh |
Elmina (Fante: Edina) is a town and the capital of the Komenda/Edina/Eguafo/Abirem District on the south coast of Ghana in the Central Region.: 1 It is situated on a bay on the Atlantic Ocean, 12.2 km (7.6 mi) west of Cape Coast. Elmina was the first European settlement in West Africa and it has a population of 33,576 people, as of 2013. The current Municipality chief of Elmina is Solomon Ebo Appiah.
When the Portuguese, after first coming in contact with the Gold Coast, struck an agreement with the King of Elmina to build the São Jorge da Mina Castle in the 1470s, the settlement grew to become an important centre of commerce and trade in the region. Nowadays, Elmina shows strong influences from Europe in its culture and people.