Remember when we talked about the Ashanti kingdom, the modern day Ghana, well today we delve into the Ashanti Region, located in the south of the country Ghana and is third largest of 16 administrative regions (formerly 10), occupying a total land surface of 24,389 km2 (9,417 sq mi) or 10.2 per cent of the total land area of Ghana.
In terms of population, however, it is the most populated region with a population of 4,780,380 according to the 2011 census, accounting for 19.4% of Ghana’s total population. The Ashanti Region is known for its major gold bar and cocoa production. The largest city and regional capital is Kumasi.
The Ashanti Region is centrally located in the middle belt of Ghana. It lies between longitudes 0.15W and 2.25W, and latitudes 5.50N and 7.46N. The region shares boundaries with six of the sixteen political regions, Bono, Bono East and Ahafo Regions in the north, Eastern region in the east, Central region in the south and Western region in the South west. The region is divided into 27 districts, each headed by a District Chief Executive.
The political administration of the region is through the local government system. Under this administration system, the region is divided into 30 districts made up of 1 Metropolitan, 7 Municipal and 22 Ordinary districts. Each District, Municipal or Metropolitan Area, is administered by a Chief Executive, representing the central government but deriving authority from an Assembly headed by a presiding member elected from among the members themselves.
This golden city is clad with beautiful nature reserves that serve as a comfort zone and historic lessons for tourists from other regions and beyond. Some of which are,
The Bobiri Forest Butterfly Sanctuary
Bomfobiri Wildlife Sanctuary
Digya National Park
Kogyae Strict Nature Reserve
Owabi Forest Reserve and Bird Sanctuary
Centre for National Culture
Rattray Park
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
Several festivals are celebrated in the region, the major ones being the Akwasidae and Adae Kese. These are religious festivals celebrated by some members of the Akan ethnic group of which the Ashanti belong. The festivals are celebrated to remember past leaders and heroes. Though they are dead, their spirits are believed to be alive and taking interest in the affairs of the living, watching their actions, and consulting with them during the Adae festival.
The region doesn’t only pride itself with its cocoa and gold production, but great educational institutions for both senior high schools and tertiary institutions as well.
Below are a few of them:
Dadease Senior High School, Dadease
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)
Osei Tutu Senior High School (OT)
Bekwai SDA Senior High School
Ghana Armed Forces Secondary Technical School, Kumasi
The Ashanti region has one public university, the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology and a Polytechnic in Kumasi. In addition, there are a number of private universities and university colleges spread throughout the region, such as, Ghana Baptist University College, Kumasi, Spiritan University College, Ejisu, Garden City University College, Kenyasi, Kumasi, among others.
One of the greatest pride of the region is one of the bravest woman to have ever walked the lengths and breadths of the nation, Ghana, is Yaa Asantewaa (17 October 1840 – 17 October 1921) was the queen mother of Ejisu in the Ashanti Empire – now part of modern-day Ghana – appointed by her brother Nana Akwasi Afrane Opese, the Edwesuhene, or ruler, of Edwesu. In 1900 she led the Ashanti war known as the War of the Golden Stool, also known as the Yaa Asantewaa War, against British colonialism.
Prominent people of the country are said to have roots from the Ashanti Region. Some of which are, the former President of the republic of Ghana, John Agyekum Kuffour, the famous Ghallywood actress, Julliet Ibrahim, the staunch football player, Kevin Prince Boateng.
Asante ni, “)ti k)k)) so nana”.
REFERENCES
1. Available online at, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ashanti_Region
2. Available online at, https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yaa_Asantewaa
