Ashanti Region

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Ashanti
Sawah rice cultivation in inland valleys in Ashanti region, Ghana
Sawah rice cultivation in inland valleys in Ashanti region, Ghana
Location of Ashanti Region in Ghana
Location of Ashanti Region in Ghana
CountryGhana
CapitalKumasi
Districts27
Government
 • Regional MinisterSimon Osei-Mensah[1]
 • AsanteheneOsei Tutu II
Area
 • Total24,389 km2 (9,417 sq mi)
 • RankRanked 3rd
Population
 (2021 Census)
 • Total5,440,463
 • RankRanked 1st
 • Density220/km2 (580/sq mi)
GDP (PPP)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$5,150
GDP (Nominal)
 • Year2013
 • Per capita$2,500
Time zoneGMT
Area code032
ISO 3166 codeGH-AH
HDI (2019)Increase 0.620[3]
medium · 3rd

The Ashanti Region is located in the southern part of Ghana and is the third largest of 16 administrative regions, occupying a total land surface of 24,389 km2 (9,417 sq mi) and making up 10.2 percent of the total land area of Ghana. It is the most populated region in Ghana, with a population of 5,440,463 according to the 2021 census, accounting for around one-fifth of Ghana's total population.[4] The Ashanti Region is known for its gold bar and cocoa production. The largest city and capital of Ashanti is Kumasi.

Geography[edit]

Location and size[edit]

The Ashanti Region is located in the middle belt of Ghana. It lies between longitudes 0.15W and 2.25W as well as latitudes 5.50N and 7.46N. The region shares boundaries with six of the sixteen political regions: the Bono, Bono East, and Ahafo Regions in the north, the Eastern Region in the east, the Central Region in the south, and the Western Region in the South west. The region is divided into 27 districts, each headed by a District Chief Executive.

Economy[edit]

Tourism[edit]

Parks[edit]

Recreation areas[edit]

Historic sites[edit]

Festivals[edit]

Young drummers at Bomeng.

Several festivals are celebrated in the region, including the Akwasidae and Adae Kese. The festivals are religious and celebrated by some members of the Akan ethnic group, which the Ashanti people are part of. The festivals are celebrated to remember past leaders and other individuals respected for their actions. Though the individuals honored are dead, their spirits are believed by the Akan people to be alive and taking interest in the affairs of the living, watching their actions, and consulting with them during the Adae festival.

Other tourist attractions[edit]

Farmers Day in Ashanti Region

Demographics[edit]

Population[edit]

The center of population in the Ashanti Region is located in the Kumasi Metropolitan District. According to the 2000 census, the region had a population of 3,612,950, making it the most populous region of Ghana; however, its density (148.1 per square km) is lower than that of Central the (162.2/km2) Region.[5] The majority of the Ashanti Region's population is from the Akan ethnic group and is made up of citizens by birth (94.2%), whereas 5% are naturalized Ghanaians. A smaller proportion (5.8%) of the population originates from outside Ashanti, Akanland, or Ghana; 3.7 percent of the population of Ashanti was from one of the five English-speaking countries of ECOWAS and 2.1 percent was from other countries in Africa. The non-African population living in the region is 1.8 percent of the total population. Akans are the predominant ethnic group in the region, representing 94.2% of citizens by birth. A high proportion (82.9%) of the Akan population is Ashanti.[6]

Transport[edit]

The Ashanti region is served by the Kumasi Airport, which handles domestic flights. Five national highways (the N4, N6, N8, N10 and N6) and a few regional highways, such as the R52 and R106, are located in the region.

The N6 is connected to Kumasi, Nsawam, the N4, and Accra via Kwame Nkrumah Circle. Ashanti is also connected to the Central Region by the N8 and N10, both of which originate from Yemoransa in the Central Region. The N10, is also connected to Kumasi.

Education[edit]

Anglican Secondary School, Kumasi

Senior high schools[edit]

  • Tweneboah Kodua Secondary School- Akyerema (TKSS)
  • Dadease Senior High School, Dadease
  • Akomadan Senior High School, Akomadan
  • Dompoase Senior High School, Dompoasi
  • Afia Kobi Ampem Girls (Royal AKAGSHS)
  • Adanwomase SENIOR High School (ADASS)
  • Agogo State College, Agogo Asante-Akyem
  • Agona SDA Senior High School, Agona
  • Anglican Senior High School, Kumasi
  • Asanteman School (Real Assas)
  • Bankoman Senior High School, Banko[7]
  • Osei Tutu Senior High School (OT)
  • Bekwai SDA Senior High School
  • Ghana Armed Forces Secondary Technical School, Kumasi
  • Beposo Senior High School, Beposo
  • Collins Secondary Commercial School, Agog o Asante-Akyem
  • Effiduase Senior High School, Effiduase
  • Ejisuman Senior High School, Ejisu
  • Ejuraman Senior High School, Ejura
  • Fomena T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Adansi Fomena
  • Jachie-Pramso Senior High School (Formerly MIGHTY JAPASS)
  • Komfo Anokye Senior High School, Wiamoase
  • Kumasi Academy, Asokore-Mampong, Kumasi
  • Kumasi Girls' Senior High School
  • Kumasi Wesley Girls High School
  • Kumasi High School
  • Obuasi Secondary Technical School (O.S.T.S)
  • Wesley Senior High School (WEHIS), Bekwai
  • Adventist Senior High School (ADASS), Bantama
  • Ofoase Kokoben Senior High School (OFKOSS)
  • Adventist Girls Senior High School (ADGISS), Ntonso
  • Opoku Ware Secondary School, Kumasi.
  • St. Louis Senior High School, Oduom
  • Nkawie Secondary Technical School.
  • Oppong Memorial Senior High School.
  • Osei Kyeretwie Senior High School, Kumasi.
  • Prempeh College, Kumasi.
  • Prince of Peace Girls Senior High School, South Suntreso, Kumasi.
  • Simms Senior High School, Fawoade
  • Bonwire Senior High Tech. School.
  • St Joseph Senior High School (Ehuren)
  • St. Monica's Senior High School, Mampong
  • Amaniampong Senior High School, Mampong
  • T.I. Ahmadiyya Senior High School, Kumasi
  • T.I. Ahmadiyya Girls' Senior High School, Asokore
  • Kumasi Technical Institute, Kumasi (KTI)
  • Jacobu Senior High School, Jacobu
  • Juaben Senior High School, Juaben
  • Yaa Asantewaa Girls' Senior High School, Tanoso
  • Kumasi Senior High Technical School (K.S.T.S),
  • Tepa Senior High School, Tepa. (GREAT TESS).
  • Mabang Senior High School, Mabang.
  • Aduman Senior High School, (Admass) Aduman
  • Dwamena Akenten Senior High School, (DASS) Offinso
  • Konongo-Odumasi Senior High School
  • Al-Azhariya Islamic Senior High School (AZASS) Old tafo_Kumasi
  • Islamic Senior High School (I-Sec) Abrepo

Higher education[edit]

The Ashanti region has three public universities. In addition, there are private universities and colleges, which are spread throughout the region.

Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Universities[edit]

Healthcare[edit]

Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital

Sports[edit]

Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi

Administrative divisions[edit]

The Ashanti Region is administered by a local government. Under its administrative system, the region is divided into 43 MMDAs (made up of 1 Metropolitan, 18 Municipal and 24 Ordinary Assemblies).[8] Each District, Municipal, or Metropolitan Assembly is administered by a Chief Executive and Member of Parliament representing the central government, but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected by the other members of the Assembly. Afterwards, the MMDAs were increased from 10 to 18 in 1988; from 18 to 21 in 2004; from 21 to 27 in 2008; from 27 to 30 in 2012; and from 30 to 43 in 2018. The current list of Members of Parliament is as follows:

District Capital Constituency Member of Parliament Party
Adansi Asokwa Adansi Asokwa Adansi-Asokwa Kobina Tahir Hammond NPP
Adansi North Fomena Fomena Andrew Asiamah Amoako

(Second Deputy Speaker)

IND
Adansi South New Edubiase New Edubease Adams Abdul Salam NDC
Afigya Kwabre North Boamang Afigya Kwabre North Collins Adomako-Mensah NPP
Afigya Kwabre South Kodie Afigya Kwabre South William Owuraku Aidoo NPP
Ahafo Ano North Municipal Tepa Ahafo Ano North Suleman Adamu Sanid NPP
Ahafo Ano South East Dwinyame / Adugyama Ahafo Ano South East Francis Manu-Adoabor NPP
Ahafo Ano South West Mankranso Ahafo Ano South West Kwaku Adu Johnson NPP
Akrofuom Akrofuom Akrofuom Alex Blankson NPP
Amansie Central Jacobu Odotobri Emmanuel Akwasi Gyamfi NPP
Amansie West Manso Nkwanta Manso Nkwanta George Kwabena Obeng Takyi NPP
Amansie South Manso Adubia Manso Edubia Frimpong Yaw Addo NPP
Asante Akim Central Municipal Konongo Asante Akim Central Kwame Anyimadu - Antwi NPP
Asante Akim North Agogo Asante Akim North Andy Kwame Appiah-Kubi NPP
Asante Akim South Municipal Juaso Asante Akim South Kwaku Asante-Boateng NPP
Asokore Mampong Asokore Mampong Asawase Muntaka Mohammed Mubarak[9](Minority Chief Whip) NDC
Asokwa Municipal Asokwa Asokwa Patricia Appiagyei NPP
Atwima Kwanwoma Twedie Atwima-Kwanwoma Kofi Amankwa-Manu NPP
Atwima Mponua Nyinahin Atwima Mponua Isaac Kwame Asiamah NPP
Atwima Nwabiagya Municipal Nkawie Atwima-Nwabiagya South Benito Owusu Bio NPP
Atwima Nwabiagya North Barekese Atwima-Nwabiagya North Emmanuel Adjei Anhwere NPP
Bekwai Municipal Bekwai Bekwai Joseph Osei-Owusu(First Deputy Speaker) NPP
Bosome Freho Asiwa Bosome-Freho Akwasi Darko Boateng NPP
Bosomtwe Kuntanse Bosomtwe Yaw Osei Adutwum NPP
Ejisu Municipal Ejisu Ejisu John Ampotuah Kumah NPP
Ejura Sekyedumase Municipal Ejura Ejura-Sekyedumase Muhammad Bawah Braimah NDC
Juaben Municipal Juaben Juaben Ama Pomaa Boateng NPP
Kumasi Metropolitan Kumasi Bantama Francis Asenso -Boakye NPP
Manhyia North Akwasi Konadu NPP
Manhyia South Matthew Opoku Prempeh NPP
Nhyiaeso Stephen Amoah NPP
Subin Eugene Boakye Antwi NPP
Kwabre East Municipal Mamponteng Kwabre East Francisca Oteng Mensah NPP
Kwadaso Municipal Kwadaso Kwadaso Kingsley Nyarko NPP
Mampong Municipal Mampong Mampong Kwaku Ampratwum-Sarpong NPP
Obuasi East Municipal Tutuka Obuasi East Patrick Boakye-Yiadom NPP
Obuasi Municipal Obuasi Obuasi West Kwaku Agyemang Kwarteng NPP
Offinso Municipal Offinso Offinso South Augustine Collins Ntim NPP
Offinso North Akomadan Offinso North Isaac Yaw Opoku NPP
Oforikrom Municipal Oforikrom Oforikrom Emmanuel Marfo NPP
Old Tafo Municipal Old Tafo Old Tafo Vincent Ekow Assafuah NPP
Sekyere Afram Plains Drobonso Sekyere Afram Plains Alex Adomako-Mensah NDC
Sekyere Central Nsuta Nsuta-Kwamang Adelaide Ntim NPP
Sekyere East Effiduase Afigya Sekyere East Mavis Nkansah Boadu NPP
Sekyere Kumawu Kumawu Kumawu Philip Basoah NPP
Sekyere South Agona Effiduase-Asokore Nana Ayew Afriyie NPP
Suame Municipal Suame Suame Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu[9](Majority Leader) NPP
Districts of the Ashanti Region

AKDA - former capital was Foase

Native citizens[edit]

Native citizens of Ashanti
Citizen Settlement
Maame Efya Nyarko Ashanti, Ghana
Richmond Boakye Agogo
Deborah Owusu-Bonsu Pakyi no2
Chelsea Sarpong Ahenemaa Kokoben
Sulley Muntari Konongo
Sonia Ibrahim Kumasi
Emmanuel Frimpong Kumasi
Kofi Annan Kumasi
John Kufuor Kumasi
Isaac Vorsah Kumasi
Juliet Ibrahim Kumasi
Sam Jonah Obuasi
Rhian Benson Kumasi
Samuel Kuffour Kumasi
Tony Yeboah Kumasi
Kwadwo Asamoah Kumasi
Maxwell Konadu Kumasi
Harrison Afful Kumasi
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie Kumasi Kofi Kingston Kumasi
  • General I. K Acheampong, former Head of State of Ghana, Taabuom, Atwima
  • General Akwasi Amankwaa Afrifa, former Head of State, Krobo, Asante-Mampong
  • J.H. Frimpong-Ansah, former Governor of Bank of Ghana, Asante-Mampong
  • Yaw Manu-Sarpong, former Deputy of Bank of Ghana, Asante-Nsuta
  • Joseph Yaw Manu, Politician, Asante-Nsuta
  • Victor Owusu, former Leader and Presidential Candidate of the Popular Front Party, Asante-Agona
  • Professor Albert Adu Boahen, Leader and Presidential Candidate of the New Patriotic Party and renowned Historian, Asante-Juaben
  • Alhaji Ibrahim Kwabena Antwi, an Academic and first Librarian of University for Development Studies, Tamale, Asante-Nsuta
  • Abdul Karim Tanko Razak, former best Footballer of Africa, Kumasi
  • Samuel Opoku-Nti, Footballer, Kumasi
  • Bishop Obinim, Christian Occultist, Kumasi
  • Ohene Kakari, Athlete, Kumasi
  • Chelsea Sarpong, Business Woman, Kumasi
  • Hannah Afriyie, Athlete, Ejisu
  • Emmanuel Tuffour (Koora) Athlete, Kumasi
  • Gerald Asamoa, Footballer, Germany National Football Team, Asante-Mampong
  • Maulvi Abdul Wahab Adam, Islamic Cleric and Scholar and former Head and Missionary-in-Charge of Ahmadiyya Movement in Ghana, Adansi-Fomena
  • Kojo Safo Kantanka, Asante-Bekwai
  • Daddy Lumba, Highlife Musician, Asante-Nsuta
  • Sam Otis Brefo, Financial Consultant, Nsuta/Abonkosu

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Regional Ministers - Government of Ghana". ghana.gov.gh. Archived from the original on 2017-07-04. Retrieved 2017-07-04.
  2. ^ "Ashanti Region". Ghanadistricts.com. Archived from the original on 2010-08-28. Retrieved 2010-10-13.
  3. ^ "Sub-national HDI - Area Database - Global Data Lab". hdi.globaldatalab.org. Retrieved 2018-09-13.
  4. ^ "Ghana: Regions, Major Cities & Urban Localities - Population Statistics, Maps, Charts, Weather and Web Information". www.citypopulation.de. Retrieved 2024-01-28.
  5. ^ Ashanti Region Archived August 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Ashanti Region Archived August 28, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Senior high and technical vocational schools" (PDF). Ghana Education Service.
  8. ^ "Ashanti Region". GhanaDistricts. Retrieved 29 December 2017.
  9. ^ a b "Leadership in Parliament". www.parliament.gh. Retrieved 20 December 2020.

External links[edit]