Mfantsipim is an all-boys boarding secondary school in Cape Coast, Ghana, established by the Methodist Church in 1876 to foster intellectual, moral, and spiritual growth on the then Gold Coast. Its founding name was Wesleyan High School and the first headmaster was James Picot, a French scholar, who was only 18 years old on his appointment.

Mfantsipim is nicknamed "The School" because it gave birth to other prominent schools such as Prempeh College.

The idea of establishing a collegiate school to raise educational standards in the Gold Coast was first mooted in 1865 but was not realized until 1876 when the Wesleyan High School was established in Cape Coast with donations from local businessmen and the support of the Methodist Missionary Society in London. The school was originally intended to be situated in Accra, owing to a decision by the British Government to move the capital of the Gold Coast from Cape Coast to Accra by 1870. However, due to local agitation and the urgency to implement the idea, it was finally established in Cape Coast, although there were initial plans to later move it to Accra, a relocation that never happened.

On 3 April 1876, the school was established as Wesleyan High School.

Mfantsipim School was established in 1876 as Wesleyan High School in Cape Coast, primarily to train teachers with an initial enrollment of 17 pupils. The idea of establishing a collegiate school in the Gold Coast dates back to 1865, but it took eleven years to realize this vision. The school's location was chosen amidst local agitation and the urgent need to start the institution, despite initial plans to establish it in Accra.

The first headmaster was James Picot, a young French scholar, who was only 18 years old at his appointment. Despite his youth and relatively limited experience, Picot played a crucial role in the school's early days.

In 1905 a graduate of the school, John Mensah Sarbah, founded a rival school named Mfantsipim; the name derives from "Mfantsefo-apem", literally meaning "thousands of Fantes" but actually meaning "the gathering of hosts of scholars for change" originally by the Fantes. In July of the same year, the two schools were merged under the supervision of the Methodist Church, keeping the name Mfantsipim.

The school celebrates annual events such as the Speech and Prize Giving Day, which dates back to 1908, initiated by Rev. W. T. Balmer. This event is significant for recognizing academic and extracurricular achievements and maintaining a connection with alumni. The school anthem, sung at various events, encapsulates the school's history, values, and aspirations.

Originally built on the premises of the Cape Coast Castle, Mfantsipim was later moved to its current location on Kwabotwe Hill in northern Cape Coast in 1931. This move marked a significant phase in the school's expansion and development.

Year	Head boy	Year	Head boy
1928	K. W. O. Assan	1975/76	Y. B. Yarquah
1930	C. J. Bannerman	1976/77	Fiifi Brandful
1931	L. K. Apaloo	1977/78	Kweku A. Awotwi
1932	H. K. Amu	1978/79	Arthur Hughes
1933	E. A. L. Bannerman	1979/80	Wormor K. Klu
1934	Peter Vanderpuije	1980/81	Sidney K. Koranteng
1935	E. A. Mensah	1981/82	Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe
1936	Joe Appiah	1982/83	F. K. T. Bedu-Addo
1937	W. B. Amankwatia	1983/84	M. Adjei-Addison
1938	K. A. Amonoo	1984/85	S. Akpebu
1939	M. A. Baddoo	1985/86	Eugene B. Sangmuah
1940	M. A. Oduro	1986/87	A. Kittoe
1941	A. W. Kayper-Mensah	1987/88	D. D. K. Larbi
1942	G. S. O. Chinery	1988/89	Daniel Tweneboah
1943	J. C. de Graft	1989/90	G. Asomaning
1944	G. M. Odamtten	1990/91	Yaw Berko
1945	Alex Quaison-Sackey	1991/92	M. Y. Paintsil
1946	J. L. Duncan-Neizer	1992/93	A. O. Ankrah
1947	J. W. Mensah	1993/94	E. Opoku Serebour
1948	J. W. L. Tamakloe	1994/95	Kwesi Nsaful
1949	P. A. L. Odidja	1995/96	Michael Ofori-Koree
1950	B. T. K. Adadevoh	1996	Collins Anno
1951	J. O. Martey	1997	James Aggrey-Orleans
		1998	Kwabena Anti
		1999	Lawrence Ofosu
		2000	Kofi Nimo Domfeh
		2001	K. Obiri-Yeboah
		2001/02	N. N. Lokko
		2002/03	A. K. Nsiah Asare
		2015/2016	Nigel Twi Yeaboah
		2016/2017	Jacob Ewusi Wilson
		2017/2018	Edwin Edem Sedodo
		2024	Peter Appiah-Thompson

• Ernest Addison, current governor of the Bank of Ghana
• Paa Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, former vice president of the Republic of Ghana
• Kofi Annan, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Kow Nkensen Arkaah, former vice President of the Republic of Ghana
• Raphael Armattoe, scientist, nationalist, writer
• Albert Adu Boahen, academic, historian and politician
• Kofi Abrefa Busia, political leader, academic and Prime Minister of Ghana (1969–1972)
• Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former president of ECOWAS commission
• Joseph W.S. de Graft-Johnson, former vice president of the Republic of Ghana
• Joe de Graft, writer, playwright and dramatist; first director of the Ghana Drama Studio
• J. E. Casely Hayford, journalist and politician
• Kobina Arku Korsah, first Chief Justice of Ghana
• John Mensah-Sarbah, diplomat, prominent lawyer and political leader in the Gold Coast (now Ghana)
• Nana Kobina Nketsia V, Paramount Chief (Omanhen) of the Essikado (British Sekondi) Traditional Area in the Western Region of Ghana
• Alex Quaison-Sackey, diplomat, first black president of the UN General Assembly
• Kobina Sekyi, lawyer, writer, nationalist
• Tsatsu Tsikata, academic and lawyer
• Arthur Wharton, England’s first black professional footballer

• Winners of the 1999 & 2014 editions of the National Science and Maths Quiz
• Winners of the 2024 edition of the National Science and Maths Quiz

•Winner of the 2021 of National Public Speaking competitions.

•Six-time Sprite basketball champions

Media related to Mfantsipim School at Wikimedia Commons