African capital whose name translates to "ants"

ACCRA

This coastal city is the bustling capital of Ghana and shares its name with a historic fort built by the Dutch in the 17th century.

The clue points to Accra, the capital of Ghana, because its name comes from the word "nkran" in the local Akan language, which means "ants." This refers to the many anthills originally found in the area where the city was built. It’s a straightforward translation clue—no wordplay, just a direct link between the meaning and the city’s name.