Accra, the capital and largest city of Ghana, is located on the southern coast along the Gulf of Guinea, part of the Atlantic Ocean. The Accra Metropolitan District has a population of 284,124, while the Greater Accra Region has a population of 5,455,692. The territory of Accra Metropolitan District was formerly larger, but has since been divided into 13 local government districts. Accra served as the capital of the British Gold Coast from 1877 to 1957 and has transformed into a modern metropolis with a blend of colonial and contemporary architecture. It is the economic and administrative center of the Greater Accra Region and the anchor of the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, home to approximately 4 million people. Accra has been recognized as a “Gamma −” level global city by the Globalization and World Cities Research Network, indicating its increasing international influence and connectivity.