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A relatively young city, 'Kumasi', the capital city of the Ashanti region of Ghana, was founded in the early 19th century by King Osei Tutu, and is presently Ghana's second largest city. The king named the city after the kum tree, which he planted as a symbol of victory for the Asante Empire over the British.

Contents

Overview

Attractions

Transportation

Twin City

External links

Overview

Kumasi is located in the Rain Forest Region of Ghana and is popularly known as "The Garden City" because of its many beautiful species of flowers and plants. Located in the south-central part of the country on the Bosomtwe River about 250 km (by road) northwest of Accra, Kumasi is approximately 300 miles north of the Equator and 100 miles north of the Gulf of Guinea.
With a population of 1,517,000 (2005, source: United Nations Population Division), Kumasi is the second-largest city in the country. The largest ethnic group is the Ashanti, but other ethnic groups are growing in size. Approximately 80% Christians and 20% Muslims, with a smaller number of adherents to traditional beliefs. It is an Anglican diocesan and Roman Catholic archdiocesan see.
The city exists in the forest region of West Africa, but there is evidence that the area around Kumasi has been kept cleared since the Neolithic. The city rose to prominence in 1695 when it became capital of the Ashanti Confederacy due to the activities of its ruler Osei Tutu. The ruler of Kumasi, known as the Kumasehene, also served as ruler of the Confederacy. Parts of the city, including the Royal Palace, were destroyed by British troops in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War of 1874. It remains a royal city, although since all of Ghana was declared independent in 1957, the role of king has been mainly symbolic. The city holds an important place in the history of the Ashanti people, as legend claims that it was here Okomfo Anokye received the Golden stool, an embodiment of the soul of the Asanti nation.
Due to large gold deposits that have been mined in the area, Kumasi has been among the wealthier cities in Ghana. The city's major exports are hardwood and cocoa. Kumasi has 50% of the timber industry in Ghana, with more than 4,000 employed in the business.

Attractions

Features of the city include the large Kumasi Central Market, Tafo kumasi, Fort Kumasi (built by the British in 1896 to replace an Asante fort and now a museum) and the Kumasi Hat Museum. Royal Asante attractions include the Kumasi National Cultural Centre (including the Prempeh II Jubilee Museum with various Asante regalia including a reproduction of the golden stool), the Okomfo Anokye Sword, the Asantehene's Palace (built in 1972), and the Mahniya Palace, dating from 1925, now a museum.
Kumasi is also home to a zoo, and to the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology of Ghana (formerly the ''Kumasi College of Technology'').
The Kumasi area has one public hospital (Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, 736 beds), five public clinics and 57 private clinics (1992 figures).
The city's most famous son is the former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan. The local football (soccer) team, the Kumasi Asante Kotoko has won several national and continental awards. Their stadium was built in 1959, renovated in 1978, and again in 2007 with a seating capacity of 40,000[1] .

Transportation

Kumasi is served by Kumasi Airport and railway lines to Accra and Takoradi. Because of the barrier mountain range just to the north, the rail system does not yet go further to the north.
Public transit in the city is provided by a mix of privately owned Mini-buses (known as Tro-Tros), taxis and buses. Tro-Tros are usually converted Mini-buses that run a regular, well-known route. They are cheap and frequent but often in poor repair and over-crowded. Some taxis also run regular routes, which cost more but provide for a more comfortable ride. Recently in 2002, the city introduced metro bus services, which were initially met with skepticism by commuters, but have increased in popularity.
As of 2007, Boankra Inland Port is being built about 25km away.

Twin City

★ - Charlotte, North Carolina, United States

★ - Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States

★ - Newark, New Jersey, United States

External links

★ Strolling Through Kumasi Central Market - Web video exploring Kumasi's Central Market, produced by Andy Carvin.