Ashanti Region

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 24389 km2 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. The Ashanti Region is known for its gold bar and cocoa production. The largest city and capital of Ashanti is Kumasi.

Location and size
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 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 43 districts, each headed by a District Chief Executive.

Parks

 * Bobiri Forest Butterfly Sanctuary
 * Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary
 * Digya National Park
 * Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve
 * Owabi Forest Reserve and Bird Sanctuary

Recreation areas

 * Centre for National Culture
 * Rattray Park

Historic sites

 * Komfo Anokye Sword site
 * Manhyia Palace Museum
 * Kumasi Fort and Military Museum
 * Armed Forces Museum
 * The Prempeh II Jubilee Museum
 * The Asante Traditional Buildings
 * Yaa Asantewaa Museum

Festivals
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.
 * Papa Festival
 * Kente Festival
 * Yaa Asantewaa Festival
 * Mmoa Nni Nko Festival
 * Nkyidwo Festival

Other tourist attractions

 * Kejetia Market
 * Adinkra cloth printing in Ntonso

Population
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. 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.

Transport
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.

Senior high schools

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

Universities

 * Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi
 * Ghana Baptist University College, Kumasi
 * Spiritan University College, Ejisu
 * Garden City University College, Kenyasi, Kumasi
 * Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development, (formerly Kumasi Campus of University of Education, Winneba)]
 * National Institute Of Information Technology, Kumasi Campus NIIT.
 * Kumasi Technical University, K-Poly
 * IPMC, Kumasi Campus
 * Akrokerri College of Education
 * St. Monica's College of Education, Mampong
 * Christian Service University College, Odeneho Kwadaso
 * Wesley College of Education
 * St. Louis College of Education
 * Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development (formerly Mampong Campus of University of Education, Winneba)
 * Mampong Technical College of Education (MAMTECH)
 * S.D.A. College of Education, Agona

Healthcare



 * Manhyia Hospital
 * Kwadaso SDA Hospital
 * Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital
 * Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology Hospital
 * Kumasi South Hospital
 * First care Hospital
 * Tafo Government Hospital
 * Suntreso Government Hospital
 * West End Hospital

Sports



 * Kumasi Asante Kotoko
 * Ashanti Gold SC
 * King Faisal Babies F.C.
 * New Edubiase United
 * Main stadium is Kumasi Sports Stadium

Administrative divisions
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). 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:

AKDA - former capital was Foase

Native citizens

 * 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
 * Joseph Yaw Manu, Politician, Asante-Nsuta